Schalke sporting director Rouven Schroder has confessed the Bundesliga are open to bid for Celtic linked defender Malick Thiaw this summer.
Several Italian outlets have claimed that Schalke are in discussions with the Scottish Premiership champions, with several Serie A sides also being linked with a move this summer. Engllish Premier League side Liverpool and Everton were monitoring the defender in January and could revive their interest, while AC Milan were reportedly interested in the £8million-rated star earlier this week in a bid to see off interest from rivals in Italy.
Ange Postecoglou is looking to add another centre-back this summer as he prepares the club for a return to the Champions League group stage, and looks to build on the title-winning success of last season. As it stands, Germany U21 international Thiaw is looking forward to a return to the Bundesliga following promotion last season after Schalke’s quick fire return to the top flight.
However, when discussing approaches for the 20-year-old this summer with WAZ , Schroder admitted nothing was off the table. He admits that the club would need to receive a sizeable offer to tempt them to cash in.
He said: “There is no such thing as an abrupt no. We have always said that we will deal with offers that come in.
“If the overall theme fits, we’ll also think about it. Malick is here and I think he suits us very well in the Bundesliga., nevertheless, he is of course in demand because of the Under-21s and his performances.”
The move comes with Christopher Jullien ‘s move the other way hanging by a thread. The French centre-back was heading to Germany to open negotiations with the club earlier this week, with a loan deal on the table with an option to buy next summer. While the deal appeared to have collapsed after failing to agree personal terms, the Schalke sporting director has insisted there is still a chance he could be playing his football in Ruhr next season with talks still ongoing.
The addition of Thiaw could see the Frenchman fall further down the Parkhead pecking order, with Cameron Carter-Vickers, Carl Starfelt and Stephen Welsh in front of the £7million man. That could mean a dramatic rethink of the 29-year-old’s decision to remain at Lennoxtown with a year left on his contract.
READ NEXT