Striker Milan Baros is getting closer to making his Liverpool exit after his agent held talks with Schalke.
Pavel Paska met the German side's manager but said no deal had been done.

"I can admit I have had a meeting with Rudi Assauer," Paska said. "The name Baros has been noted. Schalke are one of the interested clubs, nothing more."

Aston Villa have been tracking the 23-year-old Czech Republic striker who has also been linked with moves to Lyon, Valencia and West Ham.

Paska had previously said Baros wanted to stay at Anfield.

"We have stopped all activity so Milan can play for Liverpool," he told BBC Sport. "We will look at the situation in two weeks and speak to Liverpool then."

However, Rafael Benitez's decision to leave Baros out of his squad for Reds' first leg Champions League second qualifying round tie against FBK Kaunas seems to have speeded up any potential move.

That increases his value to other European clubs such as Lyon - and thus his transfer market price.

Peter Crouch's £7m arrival from Southampton pushed Baros down the pecking order, with Fernando Morientes, Djibril Cisse and Antony Le Tallec his other rivals for a first-team place.