Schalke: 5 guys primed to break out in 2020/21

2. Malick Thiaw

Our centerback situation gave us a lot to be nervous and then excited and then nervous again and then excited again about this year. Salif Sane and Benjamin Stambouli down, Ozan Kabak was a stalwart. And then Jean-Clair Todibo after him. Just incredible talents, both young and both capable of anchoring this defense.

More from Release The Knappen

• Schalke 04: Arkadiusz Milik would take everything, but he’s worth it
• Schalke 04: Ozan Kabak makes Jean-Claire Todibo pass quietly
• Schalke 04: Omar Mascarell the only boost between now and then
• Schalke 04: David Wagner just has to make it to the end of the season
• Schalke 04: At least we still have Weston McKennie

There is a very distinct (and sad) possibility that Todibo isn’t in our price range. At £25m, that’s an awful lot to pay when we’re essentially looking for a fourth centerback to sit behind Sane, Kabak, and Nastasic.

That’s Malick Thiaw, if need be. Thiaw is the next young sensation to rise up through the Schalke ranks and, as such, he is attracting a lot of outside attention. Liverpool are supposedly interested, along with a host of others, but they are interested at the rather lackluster price of £7m. It’s a price caused by not having a senior contract with the club.

Which, I should add, is a big caveat to him being a breakout player next year. He has to actually be here. That’s a situation that needs to be resolved as soon as humanly possible. Hopefully, it’s already being resolved now.