Schalke: One exciting transfer target from each Bundesliga II team

[caption id="attachment_1468" align="alignnone" width="3200"] Schalke, Marvin Ducksc (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Schalke may have to get crafty this coming transfer window, so here's one exciting player from each Bundesliga II team to target for next season. rnThere's been a lot of talk about the financial restraints facing Schalke this upcoming transfer window. And with Alexander Nubel , Daniel Caligiuri, and Benjamin Stambouli all walking for free, it's unlikely we'll see much influx in terms of sales.rnrnDavid Wagner has already spoken about how he doubted his club would have the financial capabilities to keep Jonjoe Kenny if Everton demanded what they were expected to demand, and the same goes with Jean-Clair Todibo and Barcelona. It's just not easy to see a lot of funds being made available.rnrnAll this means is that Schalke will have to do their usual thing and get crafty. They've been doing it for years, and while they may have room for maybe one big signing (make it Arkadiusz Milik !) they will have to dig under some cheaper rocks to find other potential solutions.rnrn[story_link_related select_cta="related_story" description="3%20Unsung%20Heroes%20This%20Season" url="https://releasetheknappen.com/2020/04/26/schalke-3-unsung-heroes/" /]rnrnSo let's explore Bundesliga II and find one potential solution on each of the 18 clubs down there. We start with Erzgebirge Aue.rn Erzgebirge Aue rnErzgebirge Aue is a rather old team in terms of average age and, I don't know about you, but I'm not really in the market for Schalke to get any older. They thrive on raising young players and helping them grow into stars.rnrnWith that in mind, I'll point my attention to 21-year-old striker Florian Kr&#xFC;ger .rnrnIn the same mold as Ahmed Kutucu , it looks like Kruger just needs a chance. He's got four goals and four assists despite the majority of his appearance coming as a substitute. While he isn't the target man striker that Schalke need, in the likely scenario that we lose Guido Burgstaller , Mark Uth , and Michael Gregoritsch , we are going to need more striker options and Kruger could be an excellent candidate.rnrnAnd that's not even taking into account how he can double as a winger. He may score goals, but he's a creator too.rnrnNext up, table toppers (and Schalke DFB-Pokal victims) Arminia Bielefeld.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Arminia%20Bielefeld" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1454" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by Max Maiwald/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)[/caption]rn Arminia Bielefeld rnJust hearing (seeing) this team name again fills my heart with flutters. It was against them that Benito Raman broke out of his shell and became the forward that we needed him to be.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnGushing aside, Bielefeld has one resource that I am more than a little interested in. And he's not a potential play either. Though Bielefeld has several young options that would be worthy investments. Seeing as how they are destined to be promoted, it may be hard prying players from their ranks, but I would prioritize Cedric Brunner .rnrnBrunner plays the crucial rightback position that may well be vacated if Jonjoe Kenny can't be secured and Timo Becker doesn't get a new deal.rnrnBrunner is a versatile rightback who's accrued two goals and two assists on the year. Not exactly that far from Jonjoe Kenny's return, is it? Brunner is 26-years-old, so he's nearing that point in his career when he needs to either get busy moving up or settle for where he is.rnrnIf the timing is right, it may be the ideal signing to secure for cheap. Next stop Vfl Bochum.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Vfl%20Bochum" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1453" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn VfL Bochum rnAlright, so there is this guy at Vfl Bochum who could be the greatest boom or bust in Schalke history. Maybe I'm exaggerating, but hear me out. It's Silvère Ganvoula, the hulking Congolese striker that does so many things right and so many things wrong.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnWe want a target man, right? No one can stand up to Ganvoula in the box. Dude 6.8 aerial duels per match . And yet only one of his 11 goals comes from his head, so don't even try calling him a one-trick pony. This is a target man if ever there was one. And he assists, too, which is just delicious.rnrnThe problem is that despite how good he is at using his feet to shoot, he doesn't use them well to control the ball. As in not at all. In addition to winning nearly seven aerial duels per match, he also takes 4.5 poor touches per match.rnrnWhich is really, really bad. He's also got some serious issues staying onside.rnrnThis is a boom or bust deal. If he can gain better tactical awareness with and without the ball, he could be a master signing and a jolt of life to this striking core. He's 23-years-old so he has time to work out the kinks.rnrnBut if he never does, he could be one of the most frustrating signings in recent memory. So the big question is—you feelin' lucky?rnrnDarmstadt next.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Darmstadt%2098" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1455" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Darmstadt 98 rnWith hopes of promotion still within their grasp, Darmstadt has a lot of guys on the fringe of being something who just haven't had enough time to put it together yet. Of that crew, 22-year-old midfielder Marvin Mehlem might be the top of the pile.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnMehlem has split his time pretty evenly between creative midfield roles, either a straight-up No. 10, a left-winger, and a few spotty appearances playing straight-up central midfield. Throughout that split, he's proven that he has the ability to create. Which is what we have Amine Harit here to do, but no club only has one guy that they count on to create. They need more than that, and Mehlem could be an excellent rotational option for Amine Harit.rnrnHe's still young and he's got a track record of producing goals for Darmstadt, amassing seven goals and five assists in about 5000 minutes with Darmstadt. He's certainly making the most of what's there for him, but what if he can make more if there's more around him?rnrnSchalke need help in the attack. They have rotational options that just aren't panning out, so maybe Mehlem can be a solution.rnrnNext stop, Dynamo Dresden.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Dynamo%20Dresden" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1456" align="alignnone" width="1562"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Dynamo Dresden rnDynamo Dresden currently sits at the bottom of the table, though they are by no means dead. The Bundesliga II looks like it's going to have a pretty enthralling fight to avoid relegation when/if the season does get back underway.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnThat doesn't mean we can't pluck some quality from their ranks, however, and I'm taking a similar approach as I did for Darmstadt—we need goals, we need creativity, and those things don't normally come cheap. So let's get creative without creativity.rnrnSay hello to Sascha Horvath . The 23-year-old Austrian is showing a lot of promise as an attacking midfielder with the capabilities of carrying the ball and creating chances for his teammates. Being buried on a team that scores less than any other team in the league, he is definitely due for a move where the grass may prove greener. He can only do so much when there's nothing there to create for.rnrnSchalke's task would then become giving him strikers to combine with, but that's a conversation for another day. For now, Horvath is a solid option and he would come remarkably cheap.rnrnMoving on to Greuther Furthrnrn[nextslide teaser="Greuther%20F%C3%BCrth" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1464" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Greuther Fürth rnThere are a lot of cut-and-clear options at Greuther Fürth that you could pick from, but you know me, I'm going to take my American bias and advocate for the resurrection of former wunderkind and Bayern Munich cast-off Julian Green .rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnGreen was supposed to be a can't-miss American talent. Many think he just jumped to Bayern too quickly. He wouldn't be the first and he certainly won't be the last. That said, Schalke can resurrect his still-young career and give him the opportunity to make it at the top-tier that Bayern Munich never game him.rnrnGreen has played all across the central midfield, from defensive to attack, and he's nabbed four goals in that time, despite not being a regular starter. Still, he remains a strong presence on the ball who combines solid dribbling without a lot of possession loss. He's also got that creativity that we need so much.rnrnIt might not amount to much more than a rotational option, but I refuse to believe that Julian Green doesn't still have so much yet to give.rnrnComing up next, Hamburger SV.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Hamburger%20SV" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1469" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Hamburger SV rnSure, Schalke have a ton of young attacking talents who can double as strikers or wingers. Rabbi Matondo and Benito Raman are the two obvious ones but, given the right target man up top, Ahmed Kutucu could suit up out wide as well.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnWhich is why my choice from Hamburger might be a bit eye-brow-raising, but I'm going to do it anyway— Bakery Jatta .rnrnI have all the faith in the world that Matondo and Raman and Kutucu will pan out. Hell, Raman already has, for the most part. But you can't be too sure when it comes to attacking options and right now, those three guys alone aren't enough. Maybe a target man will fix that, or maybe a new, innovative winger will.rnrnJatta is tremendous at making something from nothing. He's a dribbling wizard, he knows how to finish and while he needs to improve on his ball security, the groundwork is there for him to grow much more secure than he is.rnrnHe's also willing to put in the defensive work as well, which is always such a nice addition when talking about any winger.rnrnOn to Hannover.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Hannover%2096" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1460" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Hannover 96 rnSo, maybe I briefly considered former Schalke man Cedric Teuchert . But I find it more delicious to target former Borussia Dortmund youth product Marvin Ducksch . Ducksch fits the billing of being a target man and despite never being able to turn his prolific Dortmund youth career into a Bundesliga career, there's still reason to believe in what he's got.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnNo matter what other names I bring up here in reference to a "target man," Ducksch has one thing that the others don't—he has ball control. He's really good on the ball, rarely surrendering possession, and he's comfortable playing with his back to goal.rnrnThat's the theme in our striker search. Get someone who guys like Raman and Matondo and Kutucu can orbit around. That man could very well be Marvin Ducksch.rnrnIn addition to scoring goals, he may be one of the better creative strikers at his level, as he creates two chances per match and. has just one less assist than goals. He's the exact type of striker that Schalke needs and can I overemphasize how delicious it would be to have him sticking it to Dortmund?rnrnMoving on.rnrn[nextslide teaser="1.%20FC%20Heidenheim" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1470" align="alignnone" width="1600"] (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)[/caption]rn 1. FC Heidenheim rnFor the first and only time on this list, I'm taking the obvious candidate. The top scorer, the centerpiece. It's Tim Kleindienst .rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnTim Kleindienst had a previous foray into the Bundesliga with SC Freiburg, though he wasn't given much of a chance. He played just 1200 minutes there, amassing two goals and three assists, before being transfer back down to Bundesliga II.rnrnBut the goal numbers he produced to get sent to Freiburg have since increased from seven goals and three assists to 12 goals and four assists. He's getting better, he's still only 24-years-old and he is a remarkable presence in the box, winning six aerial duels per match.rnrnIn the name of finding a target man, Tim Kleindienst is an excellent choice. He may not be as secure on the ball as we'd like to see, but that really only constitutes this year. When he was in the Bundesliga, he didn't have as much trouble holding on to the ball. Maybe it's just a case of trying to do even more now that he's got a better grasp of his goal-scoring prospects.rnrnWith all the delivery Schalke get from their fullbacks, an aerial threat is a must this transfer season.rnrnNext stop!rnrn[nextslide teaser="Karlsruher%20SC" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1471" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Karlsruher SC rnDespite being in the relegation battle, Karlsruher has a really intriguing candidate for a move to Schalke, and it's the Polish midfielder Marvin Wanitzek .rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnWanitzek has spent his entire footballing career creating chances for his teammates. He's an assist machine who, despite being 26 and past the point of being a prospect, has never had his shot at the Bundesliga.rnrnHe made just one Bundesliga appearance during his spell at Stuttgart, but in his time in the lower tiers, he's amassed 38 goals and 56 assists in all competitions. I don't care what level you're at, when you're able to produce those kinds of numbers consistently across a handful of years, you're doing something right.rnrnAnd in a world where Schalke need to get creative to solve their creative attacking issues, Marvin Wanitzek is a fantastic candidate to not only reinforce our attacking options, but cost next to nothing in the process.rnrnHolstein Kiel is next.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Holstein%20Kiel" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1459" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Holstein Kiel rnThe loan spot of Fabian Reese , he is not the guy I'm choosing as an ideal move. Mostly because we already have him. Moving on to the disclaimer—I really like this guy I chose, even if he's also on loan—from FC Koln.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrn Salih &#xD6;zcan is the real deal, following in the same vein as Nuri Sahin . He's just 22-years-old, plays central midfield the exact way Schalke need it played. To draw another comparison, he's not unlike Suat Serdar , as he's graceful in possession but always has an eye for goal.rnrnSchalke really doesn't need another central midfielder, as they've build a fantastic base with Weston McKennie , Omar Mascarell , and Suat Serdar, but between those three and the potential for Özcan to play further forward, perhaps next to or as a complement to Amine Harit, he's a talent we can't pass up on.rnrnWith five goals and six assists on the year, he's proving to be someone destined for bigger things. Now the trick is convincing Koln, who just beat us 3-0, that we're that bigger thing.rnrnSo maybe I didn't actually pick a player from Holstein Kiel. But that's okay, because Salih Özcan!rnrnMoving on...rnrn[nextslide teaser="1.%20FC%20N%C3%BCrnberg" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1472" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn 1. FC Nürnberg rnHere's someone who's going places— Robin Hack . In his first full year at Nürnberg, he's already amassed seven goals and an assist. But it's those seven goals that we are obviously ogling over. Seven goals! That'd be tied for the Schalke team lead with Suat Serdar.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnAs can be expected from someone who has seven goals, he's doing a lot of things right in his first and breakout year. He's a tremendous ball carrier capable of shaking defenders all on his own. He's never offside, as he operates well with teammates and reading the flow of play.rnrnHe's also versatile enough to be used across the midfield spectrum, wide on either side, centrally as a traditional midfielder or attacking midfielder. Honestly, I wouldn't put it past David Wagner to try to get him operating as a striker given those seven goals I can't stop talking about.rnrnHack came up in the Hoffenheim youth outfit, but the opportunities never came at a senior level, so Nürnberg stepped in to give him the stage he needed. Now that he's flexing it, it's time to bring him back to the Bundesliga.rnrnNext up, VfL Osnabrück.rnrn[nextslide teaser="VfL%20Osnabr%C3%BCck" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1461" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn VfL Osnabrück rnI'm going to break the rules and choose another player that's on loan from a Bundesliga side because, especially in this case, it feels like a sale from the parent club—Werder Bremen—could be realistic, since they are in danger of being relegated themselves.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnThe man in question is Niklas Schmidt , a sneaky play at an attacking solution.rnrnSchmidt has played all down the spine of Osnabrück's starting XI, from striker on down to defensive midfielder. He's a stout presence, he carries the ball well, whether that be dribbling or just retaining possession, and he does it no matter where in the formation he's asked to play.rnrnWhile he's only managed 1000 minutes this season, he's made the most of it accruing three goals and one assist. The goal-producing numbers are nice, but it's his foundational attributes that make it look like this is a talent that's going to stick.rnrnIt's hard to find someone as good on the ball as he is at this level. It's clear he should be moving on to better things.rnrn[nextslide teaser="Jahn%20Regensburg" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1466" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn Jahn Regensburg rnWhile Jahn Regensburg don't have the most exciting options, there's a happy middle ground guy that isn't a prospect play, but isn't quite a veteran yet either. That man is Sebastian Stolze, the creative attacker who has played everything from striker to left midfielder. Mostly, I'm interested in his abilities to play a creative midfield role for Schalke.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnThis year has been his best year with four goals and six assists, and unsurprisingly, it's been the year he's played the most. While he's never capped the 1500 minute mark in any previous season, this year he's already over that with matches assumedly yet to play.rnrnStolze does a lot of the things right from the midfield, including but not limited to dribbling, retaining possession, creating chances, and being a presence in the midfield. Again, he can play anywhere in that midfield, but it's his attacking instincts that make him the most appealing.rnrnHe's 25-years-old, so it's time to either move up via promotion or move up via a transfer. For Schalke's sake, I hope it's the latter.rnrnMoving on!rnrn[nextslide teaser="SV%20Sandhausen" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1465" align="alignnone" width="3200"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn SV Sandhausen rnThe only guy on this list that doesn't play a position of imminent need, Leart Paqarada 's abilities as a leftback are still worthy of being the internal competition to Bastian Oczipka that Juan Miranda was unable to provide. Conveniently, Paqarada doubles as a left wingback if David Wagner goes forward with the back three.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnHe's got a promising goal-producing resume despite being just 25-years old, and his complete lack of an injury history makes him an intriguing complement to the ever-reliable Oczipka.rnrnPart of what makes Oczipka so great is his delivery. It's pinpoint and it leads to so many chances if we give him the right targets to aim for. Paqarada doubles up on that. He's in the midst of his best creative year, as he's managing 3.1 chances created per match (that's across 2000 minutes, so no small sample size) and adding 3.8 crosses. Both are over twice what he's historically given, but he seems to be catching fire just in time to make a move up to Schalke.rnrnAnd Paqarada doesn't slack off on the defensive side of the ball either. He's great in both regards—closing down opposing attackers and reading play. You can't ask for much more from a leftback than what Paqarada provides. He could be perfect to take the Oczipka throne.rnrnNext stop, St. Pauli.rnrn[nextslide teaser="FC%20St.%20Pauli" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1458" align="alignnone" width="1600"] (Photo by Koji Watanabe/Getty Images)[/caption]rn FC St. Pauli rnI know I said "one" target from each Bundesliga II club, but I'm going to break the rules for St. Pauli because there are actually two guys I'd love to have here for two very different reasons. The first is Ryo Miyaichi , who I've been a fan of since his failed Arsenal career. Since proving incapable of making it at the Premier League level, Miyaichi has used his blazing speed to make a really strong go of it as an all-purpose right-sider.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnThere, he's served in defensive and attacking capacities and created six assists from those spots. Either as a rightback, a wingback, or a right-winger, he has been an asset to St. Pauli and has really learned to play to his strengths. At 27-years-old, he's in the perfect place to be a potential creative solution to Jonjoe Kenny's exit.rnrnThe other guy I would love to pluck from St. Pauli is Viktor Gyökeres. In the same vein as Ganvoula over at Bochum, Gyökeres is a looming target man, albeit a bit more mobile than Ganvoula and a little less prevalent in the air.rnrnHe is, however, better with the ball, he scores a lot of goals, he creates a good deal and he's actually quite competent dribbling. So if Milik doesn't work out... this is a deep alternative.rnrnOnwards to Stuttgart.rnrn[nextslide teaser="VfB%20Stuttgart" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1462" align="alignnone" width="1600"] (Photo by Harry Langer/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)[/caption]rn VfB Stuttgart rnWhile I'd dread having to type his name every time he scores a goal, there is tremendous value to be found in Stuttgart's young striker Silas Wamangituka. The Congolese striker may well be the most expensive target on this list—though surely no more than £5m-ish.rnrn[recentposts thiscategory="no" /]rnrnThis is an exciting young man, as he's put together five goals and four assists without even being a regular starter. He's only managed 1200 minutes for Stuttgart and his numbers reflect a man ready to burst. Most impressively, he completes three dribbles per match, which pairs delectably with his strength and size and natural presence in the box.rnrnWamangituka does just about everything right. While he finds a lot of his success from his ability to take defenders head-on and shake them off, he's not any more of a liability on the ball than the next guy. And certainly not as bad as some of the other strikers on this list.rnrnThis is a serious striker candidate to help Schalke sort out their attacking issues. Call on him to replace Uth, or Burgstaller, or Gregoritsch. He's ready to take his talents to the Bundesliga, even if promotion isn't in the books for Stuttgart. Though it very well might be.rnrnNext stop Wehen.rnrn[nextslide teaser="SV%20Wehen%20Wiesbaden" /]rnrn rnrn[caption id="attachment_1457" align="alignnone" width="1600"] (Photo by TF-Images/Getty Images)[/caption]rn SV Wehen Wiesbaden rnIn case you haven't gathered the theme of this slideshow yet, I'm looking for creativity and goals and I'm looking for it cheap. With that as the primary parameter here, we turn to Daniel-Kofi Kyereh , the creative attacking midfielder who does a lot of promising things pretty damn well.rnrnFor starters, he's a set-piece wizard, so if we do lose our own set-piece wizard in Daniel Caligiuri , we may be replacing like for like, even if that isn't the primary draw here.rnrnThe primary draw is that Kyereh is an instigator. He's a dribbler, he knows how to handle himself in space, and he likes to make things happen. Of course, those things don't always pan out, but when things get stale, he's willing to try new things. He's willing to take defenders on or play a thoughtful ball through the lines.rnrn[story_link_next description="3%20Things%20To%20Fix%20Before%20Next%20Season" url="https://releasetheknappen.com/2020/04/26/schalke-3-things-fix-2020-2021-season/" /]rnrnHow useful would that be to Schalke? Again, Amine Harit is the man, but the man needs sidekicks, and you can do far worse than Kyereh in the sidekick department.

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Schalke: One exciting transfer target from each Bundesliga II team

Arminia Bielefeld

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