Schalke’s difficult season continued last week with their 2-0 defeat to Ajax in the Europa League. It had come just days after a 4-1 victory over Wolfsburg, and the up and down nature of form underlines the club’s problems.
Those in charge continually blame the players. Sporting director Christian Heidel and coach Markus Weinzierl joined last summer and have taken Schalke from 6th place in the Bundesliga to 10th, but they’re pretty good at deflecting blame.
Max Meyer is one of a whole team of players to have been publicly criticised, and a week ago Bild reported that the player was edging towards the exit and possibly into Mauricio Pochettino’s arms.
Tottenham had made contact about signing Meyer at the end of the last summer window, but were put off by a big asking and ended up with Moussa Sissoko instead. Bild reckon Meyer is set for Schalke ‘divorce’, and Tottenham were the only possible destination named.
A boost for Pochettino is Bild explaining that, which only a season left on his contract, Meyer could move for just €20m. Potentially a bargain for Tottenham.
Kicker have been speaking to Meyer and asked him whether he’s going to renew, the reply was telling: “The thoughts are there, my contract is running out in 2018. But everything is still open, I would call the chances, as a few weeks ago, as fifty-fifty.”
If Meyer doesn’t renew, Schalke will look to sell, and that’s increasingly looking to be the likeliest scenario. Tottenham and Pochettino may well be watching.
