Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick has expressed his desire to stay at the Bundesliga club beyond the end of the season.

The Czech international was linked with a £40m switch to West Ham last month, while Arsenal, Tottenham, Manchester City and Everton have also been credited with an interest in the player recently. However, Schick says he wants to play for Leverkusen in the Champions League if they qualify for the tournament:

“I’m really, very happy in Leverkusen and I want to go to the Champions League with Bayer 04. I love to live in Germany. At the moment it is not at all an issue for me to think of another club. Everyone knows my contractual situation. And I would never cause problems for a club to push through a change.”

With Leverkusen just one point off the top four in the Bundesliga, there is every chance that the German side will secure a Champions League place when the current campaign ends.

Considering that the Hammers are still in the hunt to finish fourth in the Premier League themselves, though, there remains a possibility of Schick being interested in a move to England next summer, but only if Leverkusen can’t match the striker’s ambitions by sealing qualification for Europe’s top competition.