No more top players for Schalke; contract for teenager Thiaw

Teenager Malick Thiaw received a first team contract until 2024 yesterday as Schalke board member for sport Jochen Schneider reiterated the financially struggling club had no funds to sign top players.

The 18-year-old defender Thiaw came to Schalke five years ago and made his Bundesliga debut in the season just ended.

“Malick has big potential, and he could get some playing time in the past season,” Schneider said on Sport1 television.

Schalke ended the season winless in 16 games to finish 12th, only avoiding a relegation battle because they ranked fifth in the first half of the season, missing out on a lucrative European berth again.

The club reported debts of almost 200mn euros (225mn dollars) last year and the figure is expected to grow because of reduced income owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Beleaguered chairman Clemens Toennies resigned during the week and Schneider had already made it clear then that the club could no longer spend big and needed a complete change of direction.

“We won’t be able to afford an experienced top player in the next few years,” Schneider said yesterday. “We have to lead the club through this difficult sporting and financial phase.”

Young talent from their academy such as Thiaw will be a priority along with getting youngsters such as Suat Serdar or Ozan Kabak to sign new deals. In addition, established players like Mark Uth and Sebastian Rudy are to return from loan spells.

Schneider also reiterated that David Wagner will remain coach, saying: “We are convinced of his worth. His style of football suits Schalke. He can lead and make players better. That’s why we are holding on to him and his team.”