Nabil Bentaleb has said he is flourishing in a new role at Schalke, the club he joined on loan from Tottenham Hotspur.
Bentaleb, 21, arrived from London in the summer and, after his new side had made a poor start to the season, has been thriving in their new 3-5-2 formation, playing a more attacking midfield role and scoring five goals in six matches.
He has played a key role in his side's nine-game unbeaten run, with four of his goals having come in the Bundesliga after 46 league games without a goal for Tottenham.
"The coach trusts me to play a more attacking position," he told Bild.
"That's good for me. I always knew that I was capable of playing higher up the pitch than I did at Tottenham."
Schalke reportedly have a €19 million option to buy Bentaleb permanently, with reports suggesting the Royal Blues want to tie him to a four-year deal.
Elsewhere, Germany international Max Meyer, 21, told Sport Bild that Tottenham had been interested in signing him this summer.
"I know there was interest and the club was contacted," the midfielder said.
"But Schalke immediately shut the door, and that was that. But I know what I have at Schalke and I enjoy playing for the club."
Meyer is under contract at the Veltins Arena until 2018, and next summer would represent the club's last chance to cash in on the Germany international should he not decide to extend his stay beyond then.
"It's still a long time," he said. "When the time has come, we will talk and make a decision. But I feel good at Schalke."