Netherlands forward Klaas-Jan Huntelaar is set to join Bundesliga club Schalke from AC Milan.
Schalke coach Felix Magath was quoted Tuesday in German daily Bild as saying that ''the negotiations were more difficult than expected.''
But he added: ''I am looking forward to Klaas-Jan - he will help us.''
Magath has revamped Schalke by releasing costly veterans and bringing in former Spain striker Raul Gonzalez and former Germany defender Christoph Metzelder on free transfers from Real Madrid.
However, Schalke - which finished second last season and qualified for the Champions League - has lost both its first two Bundesliga matches.
The club also completed the signing of Atletico Madrid midfielder Jose Manual Jurado for a reported ?13 million ($16.5 million) on Tuesday.
