Schalke 04 central defender Benedikt Höwedes is undergoing a medical at Juventus, the Serie A champions said on Wednesday (www.juventus.com).

The Germany international is expected to join the Turin-based club on a 3.5 million euro ($4.18 million) loan deal which could be upgraded to a permanent move for a further 8.5 million after a year, according to Italian Sky.

The 29-year-old, capped 44 times by Germany, has spent his entire career at Schalke since he turned professional at the German club in 2007.

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