In order to make transfers for the Bundesliga possible and to free up the salary budget, FC Schalke 04 has to get rid of its expensive loan players.
What are the chances of a permanent departure for Amine Harit, Ozan Kabak and Co.? sport.de makes the check.
Ozan Kabak (on loan to Norwich City until June 30, 2022, contract with Schalke until 2024)
The horror season lies behind the Turk, who was once considered a top talent. Kabak only played 13 competitive games for Norwich. Most recently, he was out for weeks due to a hamstring injury.
A purchase option for the 22-year-old central defender was logically missed by the bottom of the Premier League table.
According to “WAZ” there are numerous interested parties for Kabak. However, Schalke will probably have to give up the big earner well below his market value, which is still estimated at 13 million euros, in order to get him off the payroll.
Amine Harit (on loan to Olympique Marseille until June 30, 2022, contract with Schalke until 2024)
Harit played a decisive part in Marseille’s strong end of the season and ultimately also a strong second place in the table in Ligue 1. The 24-year-old feels at home at his loan club.
“We believed until the end, I’m very proud to be part of this adventure and to see the club return to the Champions League. Thank you for this crazy season,” he recently announced on social networks.
According to media reports, OM would also like to keep Harit, but could only loan him out for another year due to a transfer ban imposed by FIFA. That in turn is unattractive for Schalke.
Instead, the Royal Blues would rather sell the playmaker to another club. There is a transfer fee of a whopping ten million euros in the room.
Can Bozdogan (on loan to Besiktas until June 30, 2022, contract with Schalke until 2024)
Born in Cologne, he was very convincing at the Istanbul top club and could have a future.
However, according to “Sabah Spor”, Besiktas is not willing to exercise the purchase option of two million euros for the 21-year-old midfielder and is only offering around one million.
According to “Fanatik”, however, champions Trabzonspor have also put out feelers to Bozdogan.
Rabbi Matondo (on loan to Cercle Brugge until June 30, 2022, contract with Schalke until 2023)
After a bumpy start, the 21-year-old Welshman was in top form in Belgium from the autumn. He scored nine goals and two assists in 26 league games – by far the best season of his professional career.
Matondo has no future at Schalke because of his lavish contract from the Champions League days. And Cercle is also struggling to use the purchase option of 3.5 million euros.
Good for the S04: Matondo should also be on the list of Belgian series champions FC Bruges and several clubs in the English Premier League.
Hamza Mendyl (on loan to Gaziantep FK until June 30, 2022, contract with Schalke until 2023)
In his 21 appearances for Schalke, the Moroccan left-back owed almost everything. And Mendyl didn’t find his luck at Gaziantep either, and was out for weeks in the spring with a tear on the outside of the meniscus.
The 24-year-old will probably be back on the mat in Gelsenkirchen for the pre-season – and will be difficult to place.
Levent Mercan (on loan to Fatih Karagümrük until June 30, 2022, contract with Schalke until 2023)
The situation with Mercan is similar to that of Mendyl. After a disastrous first series, he has been used at least sporadically in the SüperLig since February. First of all, however, the midfielder is likely to return to Schalke.
Dries Wouters (on loan to KV Mechelen until June 30, 2022, contract with Schalke until 2024)
Just six months after his commitment in the summer, the Belgian clearer left the Royal Blues again in January.
One is “still convinced” of Wouters’ potential, said S04 sports director Rouven Schröder. However, this “absolutely” needs match practice.
But he didn’t get that at Mechelen either. After only two missions, a persistent calf strain stopped the 25-year-old. It remains to be seen whether he is now a candidate for the Bundesliga squad.
Timo Becker (on loan to Hansa Rostock until June 30, 2022, contract with Schalke until 2023)
Despite his loan, the full-blooded Schalke player took part in the promotion celebrations and was even celebrated with chants from the fans.
Hansa would like to sign the central defender, but other second division clubs should also have Becker in their sights. According to the “WAZ”, the 25-year-old himself is aiming for a new start at Schalke.
However, the tendency is that his heart club no longer needs the native of Herten and that he should leave the club.
Nassim Boujellab (on loan to HJK Helsinki until December 31, 2023, contract with Schalke until 2023)
With a 22-year-old midfielder, there is still no need for action for Schalke’s club leadership in the summer. His loan contract in the Finnish calendar year league runs for another six months.
Tobias Knoop