The 33-year-old has no future at Real Madrid having been told he can leave on a free transfer this summer and Schalke have made him an offer which would make him the club's biggest earner.

Magath previously said he expected a decision by the end of the month and, speaking after yesterday's friendly match with Erzgebirge Aue, he revealed that the player could be on his way to Gelsenkirchen soon.

"It looks very, very good that Raul will be presented in Gelsenkirchen as soon as next week," he said.

Raul would fill the void left by the departure of Kevin Kuranyi this summer and would be seen as a major coup.