5 more players on the crosslist
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In the summer, FC Schalke 04 signed Ron-Thorben Hoffmann on a free transfer from Eintracht Braunschweig and everything indicated that the 25-year-old would be number one for the Royal Blues. Less than six months later, there is already speculation about the farewell. According to the “Ruhr Nachrichten”, the keeper would like to leave the club in the winter, and a quintet should go beyond that.
Hoffmann lost the duel in the Schalke goal twice against competitor Justin Heekeren. At the start of the season, the then coach Karel Geraerts decided in favor of the 24-year-old; Hoffmann was only allowed to play in the DFB Cup against VfR Aalen (2-0). Successor Kees van Wonderen had both goalkeepers play two games each before he also decided on Heekeren.
The status as number two is not enough for the newcomer, reports the “Ruhr Nachrichten”. However, the club has no plans to sell, as in addition to the demoted Ralf Fährmann (36) and the injured Michael Langer (39), only 19-year-old Luca Podlech remains. Hoffmann’s contract runs until 2027.
Schalke 04: Quintet around Bryan Lasme and Ibrahima Cissé should leave
While Hoffmann should stay, Schalke is, according to the report, forcing the departure of a quintet. Ibrahima Cissé is first and foremost on the sales list. The 23-year-old central defender has made four appearances in the second division in each of the last two years, but lost his regular place after the fourth matchday this year due to performance. He hasn’t even been part of the squad since the seventh matchday, which is partly due to indiscipline.
Furthermore, Bryan Lasme is said to be leaving the club. The offensive player came on a free transfer from Arminia Bielefeld in the summer of 2023, where he played in the Bundesliga, among others. At Schalke he was only able to partially match his performance, four goals and two assists in 35 games is the meager balance. This season he only played 65 minutes and his contract ends in 2027.
Summer newcomer Martin Wasinski played a little longer, but the Belgian central defender was equally unimpressive in 212 minutes. He was probably one of the players about whom squad planner Ben Manga said in retrospect: “Perhaps we overestimated one or two players.” The 20-year-old is expected to be sold again after just six months, and loan deals are also in the works for them Ilyes Hamache (21) and Steve Noode (19) were brought in this summer.
