Schalke: Alexander Nubel hardball shows steps are being taken

FC Schalke have reportedly launched a super bid to extent Alexander Nubel that surpasses even what Bayern Munich were offering. Game on!

In case you haven’t been paying attention for the last decade or so, FC Schalke have had trouble keeping hold of their young stars. Whether it’s Bayern Munich or abroad, players have been picked away from the club, oftentimes for free, which is a horrible repeat offense. Alexander Nubel looked to be next.

The 19-year-old keeper’s contract runs out this coming summer, and he has taken his time deciding where he will play his football next. Generally, that decision doesn’t go Schalke’s way. Leon Goretzka‘s didn’t. Max Meyer‘s didn’t. It’s a long, unfortunate history of not being the first choice.

If the club were responsible for that in any way, either for not offering enough money, or enough assurances, they look to be making amends now.

According to reports, Schalke have offered a massive new contract for Nubel. A contract that’s even bigger than what Bayern Munich were offering. All in an attempt to keep hold of their talented young keeper and put an end to the Bosman parade in Gelsenkirchen.

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Nubel has been tremendous for Schalke this year, making handfuls of point-saving saves to keep Schalke in the running for Champions League football. It goes without saying, but the position we are holding now, and the optimism to push higher, largely comes down to his individual ability.

I’ve been writing a lot about Amine Harit, and the war that this club is constantly waging to keep hold of their stars. Harit has been sounded out by Barcelona and Liverpool most recently, with more undoubtedly going to come in the near future. At some point, Die Knappen have to take command of the future of their players, and for me, Harit was a staging point. Nubel already felt like a lost cause.

But now that they are fighting to keep him, I can’t help but marvel that the corner may have been turned already in an effort to get back to and prolong top quality football at one of the most respected footballing brands in the world. Even if Nubel does end up leaving, the fact that they are setting themselves up to match mega offers is a step we needed to see taken.

Now we just need to see their mega offer accepted and we can call it another step completed.