Schalke swoop for Ukraine winger Konoplyanka

Konoplyanka, 26, has agreed to join until the end of the season and the deal includes a purchase option, Schalke said on their website.

The player has a market value of 25 million euros ($27.9 million), according to Transfermarkt.com.

"We are happy to welcome a pacy midfielder who can also score goals and can be deployed on either wing," coach Markus Weinzierl said. "Yevhen Konoplyanka also brings a wealth of experience as he played on the international stage with both his national team and his clubs."

News of the move leaked out earlier on Tuesday when Schalke's club shop began stocking shirts with Konoplyanka's name on.

He joined Sevilla from Dnipro in 2015 and has shown flashes of brilliance for the La Liga club without demonstrating any real consistency.

He scored only four goals in 32 appearances in Spain’s top flight last season, and eight across all competitions, typically playing on the left wing.

Pacy and skillful, he can cause huge problems for defenses when he cuts inside towards goal.

He made his debut for Ukraine in 2010 and has made 56 appearances in total, scoring 13 times.

Gnabry to Bremen?

Europa League participants Schalke, who slipped to a surprise 1-0 defeat at Frankfurt on Saturday, confirmed the deal on their Twitter account.

In other transfer news, Werder Bremen announced they were close to completing the signing of German Under-21 international midfielder Serge Gnabry from Arsenal.

“The player would like to join us and we have also basically agreed a deal with Arsenal. Nothing has been signed yet however,” sporting director Frank Baumann told a news conference.

Baumann denied earlier reports Gnabry would sign for Bayern and then come to Bremen on loan and said the deal would probably be sealed on Wednesday.

“Bayern are not playing any role in the transfer. We want to sign Gnabry,” Baumann said.

Bremen could also do with a boost after they were hammered 6-0 at Bayern in their opening Bundesliga match on Friday.