JERMAINE JONES APPEARS to be on his way out of Schalke as the club today released a statement that the U.S. national team midfielder has made a request to the club’s sporting director, Horst Heldt, that he be allowed to find a new club.

As a result, Jones, ranked 10th in the latest ASN 100, will not travel with Schalke on its winter break training session in Qatar. It is unclear at this point if Jones will be made available for the U.S. national team’s January camp.

Jones, 32, has enjoyed a strong run with Schalke after joining the club in 2007 from Eintracht Frankfurt. He has helped the popular German team regularly qualify for the Champions League but he has missed long stretches with various injuries. Jones sat out nearly 18 months with a fracture in his leg from 2009-2010 which forced him to miss the 2010 World Cup with the United States.

It is also unclear what the future holds for Jones. He has hinted at interest in Major League Soccer, but he would probably need to find a club willing to pay Designated Player money. Jones briefly went on loan to Blackburn Rovers in England and enjoyed his time there as well. His current contract expires at the end of the Bundesliga season.

Either way, it appears as if one of the key players for Jurgen Klinsmann will have to adjust to a new club setting at the start of this World Cup year.

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