The Socceroo is enjoying a breakthrough season in the German topflight where he is a regular starter, scoring four goals.

Just last week the 24-year-old revealed to au.fourfourtwo.com that Fortuna had entered into early contract negotiations to try and keep him at Esprit Arena.

The club’s sporting director Wolf Werner is reportedly less than happy with the outside interest being shown in the player fans have dubbed “Skippy”.

Werner told bundesliga.com the former A-League star had “surpassed all expectations” and has since initiated talks to extend Kruse’s contract by two years rather than cash in on the attacker reportedly worth AU$2.5 million on the transfer market.

“I know the rumors about the interest from Gladbach,” he told BILD.

Fortuna returned to the topflight this season after a 15 year absence but have fallen to 15th on the table, just one spot above the relegation playoffs.

Ninth-placed Monchengladbach may present a more attractive proposition for the Brisbane-native who indicated his desire to stay with his current club but not at the risk of being thrown back into the second division where he toiled last season.

Kruse told au.fourfourtwo.com: “My contract runs to the end of 2014. (Fortuna) have started talking with my agent.

“Obviously my main goal is to stay in the first league. I don’t see myself as being able to go back playing in the second division. Hopefully I can help Fortuna stay up.”

BILD praised the player's development this season describing him as “quick, agile”, able to score goals and the “perfect complement” to Monchengladbach’s 22-year-old centre forward Luuk de Jong.

The club already has an Australian on the books, former Adelaide United speedster Mathew Leckie, currently on loan to FSV Frankfurt.

Kruse will be back in action on home soil March 26 when the Socceroos take on Oman in a crucial World Cup qualifier.