Schalke: 4 dream forward targets for the Royal Blues

FC Schalke 04 probably won’t be able to afford a major forward upgrade this summer, but it doesn’t hurt to dream.

Before the 2019-2020 Bundesliga season was suspended, FC Schalke 04 were in sixth place and headed for a return to European football. Their success under new manager David Wagner was supported by an excellent defense and a talented midfield, but they frequently struggled to put the ball in the back of the net.

Benito Raman had a great period of play at the end of 2019, but he fell back down to earth during the Rückrunde. Ahmed Kutucu and Rabbi Matondo should get opportunities to shine in 2020-2021, with Kutucu looking like a sure-fire future star.

However, a top striker would take Schalke a long way. There’s just about no way the Royal Blues sign a top player in the summer of 2020 due to their current financial situation, but it never hurts to dream. And who knows, maybe one of these forwards can join on loan?

Arkadiusz Milik

One of the most talented strikers in Serie A, Arkadiusz Milik can sometimes struggle with his consistency, but when he’s in his element, he can make magic happen.

A tall, athletic striker, Milik led Napoli with 9 goals last season despite featuring in only 1,236 total minutes in Serie A, making him one of the club’s best players. He is a poacher who can score some tough, acrobatic goals, and Milik would bring undeniable star quality to Schalke.

The Royal Blues have never truly replaced Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, who was once the Bundesliga’s most prolific scorer. Milik isn’t the same player Huntelaar was, but he’d be a true star addition for Die Knappen.

Schalke have been linked to the 26-year-old striker, but with Atletico Madrid and AC Milan interested, Die Knappen won’t be able to steal Napoli’s star at a discount price.