Schalke bring in Brazil's Bastos on loan from Lyon

BERLIN (AFP) –

Lyon’s Brazilian midfielder Michel Bastos tries to head the ball on January 18, 2013, at the Gerland stadium in Lyon. Champions League side Schalke 04 confirmed on Tuesday the signing of Bastos from Lyon on loan until June 2014.

Champions League side Schalke 04 confirmed on Tuesday the signing of Brazil’s Michel Bastos from Lyon on loan until June 2014.

The 29-year-old has been brought in on a loan deal worth 1.8 million euros (US$2.4m), with an option to buy, to replace Germany Under-21 captain Lewis Holtby, who joined Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur on Monday.

After Schalke signed Raffael from Dynamo Kiev earlier this month, Bastos becomes the second Brazilian to join the Royal Blues before January’s transfer window closes.

“He is a player with international experience, has special abilities and can help us immediately and he is also eligible for the Champions League,” said Schalke’s general manager Horst Heldt.

Schalke face Turkey’s Galatasaray in the last 16 of the Champions League on February 20 in Istanbul.

Bastos has made ten appearances for Brazil and was in the 2010 World Cup squad.