Michel Bastos: The striker is hopeful of signing for Schalke

Bastos joined the Germans on an 18-month loan deal in January and has made an immediate impact by scoring three goals.

The Royal Blues could wait to retain his services on a permanent contract in July 2014, when the deal expires, but the 29-year-old is keen for a decision to made earlier.

He told German magazine Sport BILD weekly: "I would love to see Schalke buy me on a permanent deal. This is my top priority this summer.

"I like to play for clubs on a long-term basis when I move and this would certainly be a move I would like to make. I am feeling great being at this excellent club."

It is believed Schalke would need to pay £3.75 million to sign Bastos from Lyon this summer with his contract at the Stade de Gerland not running out until June 2015.

Meanwhile, Romanian international striker Ciprian Andrei Marica is hopeful of penning a new long-term contract with the Ruhr club which would keep him at the Veltins Arena beyond his current deal, which expires this summer.

The 27-year-old, who has netted two goals in ten top flight matches this campaign told Kicker-Sport magazine: "I am a player of Schalke and I like the club very much. I am dreaming of signing a new contract with the club because they are great and they play in a great league."