Dutch midfielder Orlando Engelaar looks set to draw a line under his time with Bundesliga side Schalke, with club sources stating the player is close to a move to Greek heavyweights Panathinaikos.

The Oranje international was brought to Germany by former Schalke supremo Fred Rutten after he was appointed in summer 2008, but both failed to make the grade at the Royal Blues. Rutten was sacked with a quarter of the season remaining and Engelaar's future looks bleak under new coach Felix Magath.

"The transfer is not done yet, but it looks like it is going to work out," Schalke chairman Josef Schnusenberg told German sports magazine Kicker, confirming a bid had been received from Panathinaikos and that Schalke are willing to sell the 28-year-old.

Engelaar made just 18 starts for Schalke last season and received two red cards.