Arsenal defender Sead Kolasinac would have to accept ‘significant losses’ if he is to stay at former club Schalke next season.
That’s according to Ruhr 24, who say the German club have made talks with the Arsenal man and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar a ‘high priority’.
Kolasinac joined his former club on loan in the January transfer window, taking a pay cut to try and help them avoid relegation.
That was a task he has failed in, with Schalke relegated to the 2.Bundesliga despite his best efforts to turn things around.
The club are now planning for life in the second flight, and that will mean a significant turnaround in the squad.
They’ve made it clear that they would like to keep the Arsenal man and Huntelaar to help them get back to the Bundesliga but keeping Kolasinac is a tricky process given the money involved.
That is something that sporting director Peter Knäbel confirmed earlier this week, and Ruhr 24 pick up on that today.
According to them, while Schalke’s plan is to keep Kolasinac, there is a ‘catch’ that ‘troubles’ the club; the fact he’s only on loan and has a deal with Arsenal until 2022.
That contract sees Kolasinac receiving around €8m a year, a figure which is ‘far too much’ for the Royal Blues. Thus, he would have to ‘accept significant losses’ to make a permanent return.
If it were up to Knäbel, he would have him back next season as he is one of the club’s leading players, but there will need to be some sort of agreement and sacrifice from Kolasinac.
That is why talks with him and Huntelaar ‘enjoy a high priority’ as the club look to reach some sort of agreement to make their returns permanent.
