Former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius is set to undergo a medical with German side Schalke 04 after considering retirement. The 31-year-old has been without a club since leaving Newcastle United in 2024.

Karius made just two appearances for the Magpies during his two-year stint at St James' Park. He made his debut in the Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester United in February 2023 and had to wait almost a year later for his first Premier League outing in six seasons in the 4-1 defeat to Arsenal.

The ex-Reds shot-stopper had loan stints with Besiktas and Union Berlin following the ill-fated performance in the 2018 Champions League final against Real Madrid.

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In a tweet, Sky Sports Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg claimed that Karius will sign a six-month contract for Schalke, who now ply their trade in the second tier of Germany's football pyramid, after a full agreement was reached.

In an interview with Sport Bible in November, the goalkeeper revealed that he turned down a move to Saudi Arabia and talks over a move to Italy also fell through.

He added that after being a free agent for five months retirement had crossed his mind. He said: "If you've been out for as long as I have then you obviously have to consider retirement.

"I haven’t made a decision yet because there's no need to. I'm still fit. I still have all the potential and the ability.

"But if a door doesn't open then I have to be honest and say to myself, 'Listen. I've got many other things that I can pursue that excite me; that I enjoy and put effort into.' I don't think it would hit me that hard because I've already been going through this process over the last few years."

The German shot-stopper was the subject of an apology from former Manchester United defender Gary Neville recently, after his scathing comments in the months leading up to his mistake in Kyiv.

"[Loris] Karius, the Liverpool goalkeeper, the young lad I've been quite direct about him for a period of two to three months," he said. "Liverpool were getting better under Jurgen Klopp and I remember saying that they'll never ever win the league with that guy [Karius] in the net.

"It's a strong line for a young goalkeeper. It was probably 'true' five months later back in the Champions League final. One time I went to Italy and went to a hotel. I walked into the gym for a session and there was just this big bloke lifting massive weights it was Karius!

"He could have done many things there and could have had a go at me. It went right through my head on what I said about him, and I know he would've known that. But he said, 'nice to see you' and I felt guilty bumping into someone I've given a harsh line to."