Christopher Jullien facing Celtic transfer exit sticking point as Schalke make defender go all out to prove fitness

Outgoing Christopher Jullien is set to be put through a rigorous medical check by Schalke as he looks to bring an injury-hampered spell at Celtic to an end.

The Frenchman has previously stated he has been fit since January after spending 13 months on the sidelines with cruciate ligament damage, but that failed to convince Ange Postecoglou to give him game time during the Scottish Premiership run-in. Carl Starfelt and Cameron Carter-Vickers were the first-choice centre-back pairing under the Australian with the £7m defender playing just 16 minutes of football last season during a Scottish Cup cameo in the rout of Raith Rovers.

With one year left on the 29-year-old's contract – though there are reports the Glasgow giants have triggered a further 12 months – he looks set to call time on his Parkhead career with a move to the Bundesliga on the cards. Record Sport revealed earlier the French centre-back was heading to Germany to open negotiations with Schalke ahead of a loan switch with an option to buy.

BILD report that a thorough check is underway in Germany, with the Celtic man undergoing an “athletic examination” which is independent of an actual medical check. This is more thorough than a traditional medical with Schalke keen to make sure the player is up to speed.

If the deal does get over the line, adding to the centre-back position will become a top priority for Postecoglou with Starfelt, Carter-Vickers and Stephen Welsh currently his only options. According to reports in Italy, Malick Thiaw could be leaving Schalke to join Celtic when a deal is rubber stamped.

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