Signed from VfB Stuttgart in the summer for a fee of €3.5m, Darko Churlinov hasn’t exactly convinced at Burnley since arriving.
The North Macedonia international has barely been used by Vincent Kompany at Turf Moor, with him making just 12 appearances in all competitions for the Championship side, starting just three of those.
He was sidelined for a couple of months by an injury, but the fact of the matter is, he doesn’t really appear to have a future at Burnley.
That’s something Schalke 04 are looking to capitalise on this summer, according to Sky Germany, as they know him well from a loan he had there during the 2021-22 season.
Der FC Schalke 04 will Darko Churlinov wieder nach Gelsenkirchen lotsen. 🔥
Neben Schalke hatten auch zwei weitere Vereine Interesse an Churlinov. Der schnelle Außenspieler hat sich aber für einen Wechsel zum FC Schalke stark gemacht.#SkyTransfer #Churlinov pic.twitter.com/cpab312fTI
— Sky Sport (@SkySportDE) March 6, 2023
Taking to Twitter, the media outlet explain the Bundesliga side ‘want to bring Darko Churlinov back to Gelsenkirchen’, and while two other clubs are also interested in him, the player ‘has made a strong case’ for a move to his former club.
They further add that ‘he will go on loan’ there in the summer, after he has ‘failed to convince’ at Burnley, and he was told the Clarets ‘will agree to a change’.
With money an issue at Schalke these days, this isn’t a surprise, but it’s also an opportunity for Kompany’s side to perhaps see their player improve with another season in Gelsenkirchen before he returns rejuvenated for the 2023-24 season.