Latest Rumors are looking like Herta. They certainly have the cash to spend! The 21-year-old has been said to prefer a move to the English Premier League, but Hertha appear to have the best chances of landing him – mainly because, unlike McKennie's other suitors, the German capital club should be willing to meet Schalke's asking price €25 million, according to Sky Germany. Meanwhile, Bild claims that negotiations between Hertha and Schalke 04 are well underway and that McKennie is top of Hertha's shortlist. Schalke coach David Wagner refused to comment on the speculation on Monday. "I don't deal with rumors," he told WAZ before adding that McKennie is an 'important part' of his team. https://bulinews.com/news/5739/hertha-emerge-front-runners-sign-weston-mckennie-from-schalke-04
Bild reports tonight Weston McKennie could be on the verge of what they describe as an “emergency sale” by Schalke to Hertha. Schalke seeking 25 mill Euro for the #USMNT player. Hertha want to pay 20 mill. Compromise possible. Transfer key to Schalke as part of survival plan.— Derek Rae (@RaeComm) August 11, 2020
Would be paid more if he went to the EPL but as I said before it currently looks like Herta has put in a bid and are negotiating.
I would prefer he head to the EPL too but it isn't like he can't do that in a couple of years. I am OK with him heading to Hertha if that team is ready to take the next step and challenge for Europe. Looking at their current roster and incoming transfers (or lack thereof) and I am not terribly optimistic they can challenge for Europa... even with Wes coming in.
I mean the real issue with Hertha is getting stuck in Hertha. You come in on a big transfer like that and you have to really get the big boys interested in you, otherwise you are there for at least three years (assuming a standardish five year contract is signed). The Bundesliga is a pretty active transfer market for players 20-23, but not so much in the 24-26 range. So Wes needs to decide if he wants to play in Germany for another three years. If it's that or stay at Schalke, I'd rather he play for Wagner for another year. But it seems like the club NEEDS to sell him.
Herta will be a new challenge. They have a billionaire sugar daddy and are spending bucket loads of cash to buy very good players. Over the last year or so the have been remaking their squad with young, aggressive players. Wes will have competition in CM if he goes there. They are definitely spending money like a UCL club so he will have European ball unlike the mid table EPL clubs that many are excited about. Schalke showcasing the "new" replacement Weston. Somehow we have not hindered 19yo Bozdogan from being a technical player like many here suggested. More like this to come this season? 🔥#S04 pic.twitter.com/BdYn4N4dai— FC Schalke 04 (@s04_en) August 11, 2020 If Bentaleb returns tomorrow as reported then the chance of Wes staying is very slim.
But the guy with the money has the type of judgment that results in him getting suckered by Jurgen Klinsmann, so don't count those chickens before they hatch. They spent $100 million net this season to finish 10th with a -11 goal difference. That's an improvement of 1 place, -2 points, and -3 GD from the season before.
When you get bought for 25 Million Euros by a club like Hertha (even with new money) you get your shot. I'm not too concerned about the competish.
I am not counting any chickens, I am a Schalke supporter and still believe that if we keep the squad together we could be a European team. I don't care if Herta does well but they are getting good players and that is the first step. Not sure of your point. Windhorst and Klinsmann go way back. Windhorst brought JK in to be on the board as the visionary for the new Herta. JK reluctantly took the coaching job short term when Herta was in the relegation zone and fired their coach. Klinsmann in fact turned them around and had a hand in the new January signings. Klinsmann quit because the TD did not sign a couple of players he wanted including young American KDF.
You do realize that all the new players that they have recently bought are in that same price range and young? in January they bought Tousart, a 23yo CM from Lyon for 27.5MM
Right. Anyone who looks at Klinsmann's career arc over the past decade and goes "yep, THAT guy is who I want directing my vision" has awful judgment. So even if Hertha is flush with new money, I'm going to remain skeptical about their potential to be regular European qualifiers until they actually do it. Early results aren't promising. Fact check needed on that, too. Klinsmann managed 10 games at Hertha. They won 3.
Oh. I guess Windhorst does not share your opinion of Klinsmann's as a visionary? I could say that anyone pouring 500M into Herta has awful judgement, he should be pouring that into Schalke but that is just my opinion.
Winhorst brought Klinsmann in to help with sponsorships. “Visionary” was just a nice spin. Anyway, he played with crazy fire and got burnt.
Jens Lehmann took Jurgen's spot on the supervisory board. They probably just wanted a German legend to hang out with.
So basically this has nothing to do with Hertha and if they should/will buy Weston for 25MM+? It has nothing to do with if Hertha is a better destination for Wes? In the first half of the season they were relegation fodder and was a bet to go down, Schalke was in a UCL slot. The manager change turned them around. The new players solidified them. At the end of the year we finished 12th and Hertha finished 10th, 2 points above us. They have added 80MM+ in players over that span with more signings expected and are forecast to challenge for a Euro slot. If they pay 25MM+ for Wes I think he should go. It is 2.5MM in his pocket, a raise, and he will fight for a spot in a raising club with deep pockets. If they don't then he should stay. We will have the squad back that was a UCL club first half last season with maybe a couple of better pieces.
It would be a shame for Wes to swap Schalke for Hertha and then watch Schalke finish above him in the table, a real possibility.
I'm arguing with the idea that YOU put forward that says that Hertha will be regular European qualifiers because of money. But now you say: ...which is totally different, so I guess you agree now? But this conversation was never about "should Hertha buy McKennie?" Of course they should. I've been here railing about how Arsenal should sign him, so obviously Hertha should. The much more relevant question is "should McKennie choose to go to Hertha if they try to buy him?" and the answer to that is a lot more muddled, and I'd lean towards no.