[Oliver_Kahn]

Schalke team manager Andreas Muller has confirmed that the Royal Blues would like to sign Arminia Bielefeld defender Heiko Westermann.

Muller told the club's official website that he had already informed Bielefeld of his interest and would be looking to start talks with the 23-year-old stopper in the near future.

"Westermann is an interesting player, who has come on in leaps and bounds;" he said.

"We want to talk to him before we make any concrete move, but we know we're not the only team interested in his signature."

Schalke can be expected to have to dig deep into their pockets for Westermann's signature as he is contracted at the Schuco Arena until 2008.

Meanwhile Muller revealed that he had granted midfielder Hamit Altintop time to consider his future after talking to his agent.

The German-born Turkish international has been tempted by an apparent offer from Turkish giants Galatasaray, but Muller says he now has until the end of March to decide whether to accept a new extended offer from the Bundesliga outfit or not.

"We want to keep Hamit here. It is definitely the best thing for him to do from a sporting point of view," he commented.

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