Report: Schalke favourites to sign Matija Nastasic from Manchester City

Out-of-favour centre-back Matija Nastasic could reportedly be heading from the Etihad Stadium to the Veltins-Arena.

According to Stuart James from the Guardian, Schalke are the favourites to sign Nastasic, who has fallen behind Dedryck Boyata in Manchester City's pecking order and has yet to make a single Premier League appearance this season as a result. In fact, the last time he took the pitch for Manuel Pellegrini's side was when City fell 3-0 to Arsenal in the Community Shield in August.

It was only two seasons ago that Nastasic was nearly named as City's player of the season under manager Roberto Mancini, but injuries sent the Serbian defender's career on a downward spiral, and the club's acquisition of Mangala limited Nastasic's chances of working his way back into the squad's starting XI.