Right, but on the other hand they are flat out saying they are broke, instituting a self imposed salary cap and trying to sell many of those great players who were injured, yeah? So one can reasonably expect next season to look a lot more like the team that just finished the season, than the one that started it, yeah?
According to the club, and HoustonHoya, they are trying to offload bentalab and ruby while keeping hold of their core stars. As with 99% of clubs, every player has a price and if someone comes in for the right price for Wes, Serdar, Harit, Kabak(edit for spelling), I believe and Schalke fans seem to believe they will sell. I think where we are differing, is that some think Schalke have to sell their top players to survive which seems like that isn't the case after at 40m euro state injection.
That is the best reason for Wes to consider leaving if he has a better option. Just so everyone is clear; when we make the CL that is typically a 50+MM check to us. Teams then make say a 35+MM in player purchase investment if they believe they are a UCL-level squad. Our player market value was 245MM last year which was 6th in the BuLi. It is going to go down which will make us a below mid table squad as far as player market value. That is the reality!
it's a shame Serie A clubs don't have the funds to pick him up as I'd love to see him at a Fiorentina or Bologna
How do you figure Serie A clubs don't have the funds? If you are saying that mid-table clubs like Sassuolo, Bologna, Parma or Hellas Verona don't want to throw 30 mil at a non-EU unproven star, I would agree. The issue with going to a league like Serie A is their 2 non-EU spots per year. Fiorentina and Rocco Commisso (Italian/American) has the funds, they are restricted with FFP. I actually think that Wes would do great at Fiore, Him and Castrovilli would be a strong midfield. They have problems up top with Vlahovic who is still a bit young to be leading the line at a club trying to get in the CL. Wes currently isn't good enough for Juve and probably doesn't start right away at Napoli, Roma, Lazio, or Atalanta. I think that Wes would be able to get playing time and possibly wrestle a starting spot. I think Wes would be a lot of fun at Atalanta as well, they have probably 2 more years with their current team. I say this as someone who would prefer him going to Serie A, because I think it would help round out Wes' game to probably shine at the World Cup in 2022.
To back this up with Serie A, the league as a whole is getting better at finding young talent. Still a bit to go and Juve us way ahead of the pack bur Serie A is expanding where they look at for young stars. You are also starting to see more investors look towards Italy to invest. It is an interesting time in Serie A but I do expect more teams to become options soon for non Italians
The only one I can think of is Giancarlo Gonzalez, who went from Columbus to Palermo in 2014. That was less "looking into MLS" and more "watched the World Cup" though.
Everyone sleeping on Panayotis Lalas. (Technically, at least, if not in reality.) And Ibra!! Come on. Be Better!
The plan by the SD and Wagner is that the team looks almost identical to the team that contended for a UCL spot the first half of the season. Selling Bentaleb and Rudy is designed to get ~15MM in transfer fee and more important free up 10MM+ in annual salary. We have agreed to personal terms with Freiburg's GK but need to spend 8MM on the buyout clause. the freed-up salary space should enable us to sign Serdar to an extension past 2022, essentially paying him clos to what we are paying Bentaleb. Schneider has again reiterated in interviews the last 2 days that Wes is not for sale! The plan is to keep the young core while promoting the academy players like Malick Thiaw who Liverpool tried to steal for 7MM before we signed him to 2024.
Time will tell, but I still think, as I thought in the fall, that Schalke's results flattered. I hope I'm wrong (esp. if Wes stays) but I will very surprised if Schalke are above mid-table for any extended amount of time next season. But staying won't be the worst for Wes either, esp if Wagner and Serdar stay. Probably not best, but not worst either. Being loved/appreciated by fans and coach is never a bad thing.
Due to Non EU player restrictions they have not consistently. But due to Bologna owners owning Montreal and many Italians/experienced Serie A players speaking highly of MLS in Italy more eyes are on the league. This along with the lack of young Italian players developi g has teams looking for cheap young talent to develop. You also have several mid table teams wanting to look at young Americans to try and get some opportunities in the American market
Mascarell is a pure DM. He’s rarely put into the position to even think of going for goal. He’s tidy and fairly technical. Clearly more technical than McKennie. His positional play defensively is also decent. Wes is out there because he’s an outstanding athlete. One of, if not the best midfield athlete in the entire Bundesliga. He makes defensive recoveries, creates numbers going forward and wins many aerial challenges. Schalke lives with his sloppiness in the middle third. He does have some passing range but he’s not out there to create with the ball. His contributions are very valuable to Schalke but it has little to do with technical play.
For the soccer media in Romance language lands (except, funnily enough, Mexico), "MLS sucks" is an Article of Faith.
Most likely to move (and there is plenty of interest) is Gianluca Busio since he would not count as non EU
"We're in a financially critical situation."What's gone wrong at Schalke, one of Germany's biggest clubs? pic.twitter.com/OspJCES83a— DW Sports (@dw_sports) July 9, 2020
Is there a TwitterMaster in the house? Please ask McKennie who he's rooting for in today's clash between Everton and Southampton. Be direct, but not too obvious. Thanks in advance ...
I understand all of that, this just seems a lot more likely to me based on everything that is obviously happening at Schalke: https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/ne...nd-spain-france-germany-monitoring-situation/
Just so we are on the same page; you think that it is more likely that Wes will leave to an EPL club that satisfy Schalke's 25-30MM fee and Wes' requirements (CL-level, consistent playing time, and proper development)? The CL level EPL clubs are Liverpool, City, Chelsea, Leicester with Man U in the Europa slot. If that happens then I am thrilled for Wes. A 30MM fee puts 3MM into Wes' pocket, he will also get a significant salary raise and will be consistently playing for a top EPL club!
I am saying it is more likely he leaves. Maybe it is to a CL level club, I doubt it. If everyone only went where their preferences dictated... Yeah someone will pay 20-30MM for him and it certainly sounds like Schalke need the money. He gone. IMHO