German clubs eye Leon Balogun as his contract with Bundesliga club Mainz ends this summer

SUPER Eagles centreback Leon Balogun is poised to move from his Bundesliga side Mainz 05 list side on a free transfer this summer with Schalke 04 leading the charge to procure his services.

Balogun, 29, who is now an integral part of Coach Gernot Rohr's side, will see his contract with Mainz expire at the end of the current German season. He joined the team three years ago as a free agent from SV Darmstadt 98, which surprised many as he played a very big role in helping the modest team secure promotion to the Bundesliga.

He signed a three year deal with Mainz in the summer of 2015 and with his current deal running out in the summer, the big defender is set to leave the club as a free agent this year. Expected to play a leading role for Nigeria at the World Cup, he has already gained the attention of top clubs in Germany with Schalke 04 listed among clubs interested in his services.

This season, however, Balogun has struggled for game time at Mainz 05 with just 12 games to his name this season, mainly due to injury. However, his form for Nigeria has caught the eyes with his central defence partnership with William Troost-Ekong earning the duo the nickname Oyibo Wall.