Schalke: Suat Serdar and 5 other players who need new contracts

1. Malick Thiaw

Having a bunch of guys that have deals until 2022 isn’t the worst situation. We are at a decision point where we need to move things forward or part with them sooner rather than later, but it gives us some time to think.

Malick Thiaw is different. His deal runs up next summer in 2021 and all of the big clubs are sniffing around, trying to pluck him up this year for chump change. Recent rumors have him fetching as little as £7m.

Thiaw could be crucial to Schalke this coming season if we lose Stambouli and can’t maintain Jean-Clair Todibo, but we really don’t want him to start flourishing if he doesn’t have a new deal because then we run the eternal risk of him walking for free at the end of the year.

Aside from Serdar, Thiaw is the most important guy to get a new contract to. Time is especially of the essence with him.