A permanent signing of promotion hero Darko Churlinov, who was loaned to FC Schalke 04 from VfB Stuttgart last season, is proving difficult. Therefore, the Royal Blues are now apparently targeting an alternative for the offensive flank.
According to information from “The Athletic” FC Schalke 04 is interested in Abdallah Sima from Premier League club Brighton & Hove Albion.
But in poker for the 21-year-old attacker, the miners have to be prepared for well-known competition. Standard Liège and SCO Angers are also said to have put out feelers for the Senegalese.
According to the report, the Ligue 1 club currently has the best cards for a Sima commitment as the striker prefers a move to France.
Sima moved from Slavia Prague to Brighton & Hove Albion in the summer of 2021 for €8m, but he was loaned straight to Stoke City in the second English division. However, he only played four competitive games for the Potters, as the 21-year-old was repeatedly set back by injuries last season.
After the season, Sima returned to Brighton. His contract with the Seagulls runs until 2025.
Schalke are hoping for Churlinov to stay
However, signing Darko Churlinov has priority at FC Schalke 04 anyway. After it initially looked as if the Revierklub and VfB Stuttgart could not come to an agreement, S04 manager Rouven Schröder finally gave a glimpse: “The door is not completely closed.”
S04 are said to have sought another loan from the North Macedonian, but without a purchase obligation or other financially binding clauses. The Swabians are said to have insisted on this.
However, a permanent transfer was hardly possible for the royal blues. According to “kicker”, VfB insisted on a fee of more than three million euros for the 21-year-old offensive man, who had impressed with two goals and six assists in 22 second division games.