As WAZ reports, "the financial target for 2026 is in danger" because a major player sale has so far failed to offset the €2.7 million spent on transfers. On the income side, only €300,000 is currently on the books. That has to change by the end of the transfer window next week, otherwise the consequences could reportedly be severe.
"A loss is forbidden, otherwise there is the threat of the negative equity rising. That would result in a points deduction for the 2027/2028 season," the regional paper reports. Internally, nerves are also said to be growing, and the approach sporting director Frank Baumann chose at the start of the summer is coming under scrutiny, although the 50-year-old is of course not in the dock given his achievements.
At Schalke, the question is now being asked whether it might not have been smarter "not to have responded in June to initial enquiries for players which did not match their market value but would have brought security", writes WAZ. By now, every club in Europe knows the predicament the Royal Blues are in. That makes offers for players Schalke are willing to let go even less attractive.
Do Schalke 04 have to sell the family silver? Major interest in Aouchiche
One player caught up in that is striker Moussa Sylla. The 26-year-old was supposed to and wanted to leave Schalke for MLS back in the winter, but the move collapsed at the final stage because New York City FC wanted to tweak the parameters of the deal in their favour once again. Schalke would not accept that and, after Edin Dzeko's injury, Sylla ultimately became an important factor after all with three important goals and one assist in the run-in as they pushed for promotion to the Bundesliga.
Following the successful return to the Bundesliga top flight, Sylla was supposed to finally pull up stakes in Gelsenkirchen and bring in the urgently needed income. Suitable offers, however, have so far failed to materialise, reports WAZ. It is different with Adil Aouchiche, although the 24-year-old is actually firmly part of the plans and is supposed to extend his contract, which runs until 2027. Schalke could now in fact be forced to sell the highly talented attacking player (3 goals, 5 assists in 14 second-division matches) after all.
Sky recently reported on an offer from England that is set to arrive soon for Aouchiche. Bundesliga clubs are also said to be interested in a transfer.
That scenario is not entirely unrealistic either because the Schalke hierarchy would actually still like to strengthen the squad. Schalke are currently said to be pushing hard for striker Andreas Hountondji (Brentford) and midfielder Amario Cozier-Duberry (Brighton). Both are under contract in the Premier League, so they are unlikely to come cheap.
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