Manga joined the club in 2024 as both the squad planner and director of football; however, earlier this year, Schalke brought in Frank Baumann as sporting CEO. 

Since then, there have been concerns about Manga around the Veltins Arena. This has mainly been due to several poor decisions, whether that be the signing of players or the hiring of Kees van Wonderen as head coach. 

Before Baumann’s official arrival in the summer, the former Werder Bremen sporting director wanted to see the situation for himself, and has now made the decision to part ways with Manga. 

Manga’s contract is still valid until 2028 and will receive a pre-agreed severance payment of €800k. 

Die Königsblau are already working on finding a replacement for Manga; however, they will work under the title of ‘Chief Scout’.

Schalke’s strong start to the season:

Despite the drama off the pitch, on it, Schalke are showing calm and stability for once. Under former Plymouth head coach Miron Muslic, the club are currently fifth following a 2-0 win against Magdeburg at the weekend. 

GGFN | Jack Meenan

The Melbourne-based club’s ongoing financial crisis ultimately led to the Australian FA revoking its license after a sale to a stable financial entity fell through. As a result, Western United were ejected from the A-League and all players automatically released from their contracts. 

Leonard joins Germany’s Königsblauen on a free transfer. The right-footer signed a contract with S04 valid until 2030 on Monday. 

“In Dylan, we are signing a very young and talented centre-back,” Schalke managing director Yuri Mulder noted in a club statement. “We will give him time at Schalke to settle in Europe over the coming months. He has decided to take a big step at a young age. That illustrates the ambition with which Dylan pursues his goals.”

“I’m very happy to be here and already gained a lot of great impressions over the weekend,” the player himself added. “During our conversations, the Schalke officials showed me a very interesting path, which I now want to follow together with them.”

GGFN | Peter Weis

Schwolow’s story remains one of much unfulfilled potential. The Wiesbaden-native came up through the SC Freiburg youth ranks and was once considered one of Germany’s leading goalkeeping prospects. Hertha BSC paid €7m to acquire him from Freiburg ahead of the 2020/21 season.

Schwolow never developed as hoped in Charlottenburg, however, and his estimated market value steadily declined from a peak of €9m. Hertha loaned Schwolow out to Schalke 04 during the 2022/23 campaign, where he was unable to help die Königsblauen avoid relegation.

Released by also-relegated Hertha after the 2022/23 season, Union signed Schwolow on a free two summers ago. He made seven competitive appearances backing up regular starter Frederik Rønnow over the last two seasons. 

Despite the fact that Schwolow has an impressive 206 Bundesliga appearances to his credit, it would likely be the case that his role at Bremen would be to back up young Mio Backaus. The 21-year-old Backhaus actually hasn’t made his Bundesliga debut yet.

GGFN | Peter Weis

All German footballing media sources report that Schalke have not managed to secure a re-sale fee, but the overall financial package received for Bulut remains a solid gain. Schalke plucked Bulut from the Bayer Leverkusen youth ranks in 2020 at no cost. The fee pocketed for Bulut is in perfect line with his estimated market value.

“The move to Beşiktaş is a good decision for everyone, both from a sporting and financial point of view,” S04 sporting boss Youri Mulder noted in a club statement. “The fact that Taylan is moving to a top Turkish team is testament to the excellent training he received at the [Schalke youth] Knappenschmiede academy. Together with all his teammates from the past five years, I would like to thank Taylan for his commitment.”

“I am very grateful to Schalke for the years I had here,” the player himself added.  “The first training sessions with Willi Landgraf, the German U17 championship, and my time in the U19s with Norbert Elgert and then with the pros. I’ve many good moment to look back on. I wish the club and its loyal fans all the best for the season.“

GGFN | Peter Weis

Bulut was rumored to have an exit clause in his current contract that could have netted Schalke upwards of €10m. This clause nevertheless expired in mid-May. Some German sources are claiming that die Königsblauen might still pocket upwards of €8m via bonuses. It does nevertheless appear to be the case that (as reported by Patrick Berger and others) Schalke have not secured a re-sale clause.

With an estimated market value of €6m, Bulut shares the distinction of being the most valuable player on the Schalke squad. Ever since breaking through for the S04 first team last season, the 19-year-old has become one of German football’s hottest young commodities on the transfer market. Many clubs remained interested in the versatile player throughout the summer. 

It’s not yet clear why Bulut opted for the Süper Lig. 

GGFN | Peter Weis

The Premier League club are in search of defensive reinforcements and see the 23-year-old right-back as their ideal candidate. 

Newcastle’s €30m bid is well above Thiaw’s current TransferMarkt value of just €18m. 

Despite this, a potential deal will require further talks. As reported by Fabrizio Romano, Milan manager Max Allegri doesn’t want Thiaw to leave this summer. After having an excellent impact during pre-season, the defender is seen as key to the manager’s plans. 

That said, Thiaw isn’t unsellable. The club would have to listen if an offer came in that was far above the club’s estimation of the defender. 

What’s In It For Schalke 04? 

Thiaw left Schalke 04 for €9.5m in the summer of 2022. Within the deal, Milan agreed to a 10% sell-on clause in any future sale. 

Given that, Schalke would be looking at a fee of €3m should Thiaw leave for €30m. With this being unlikely, the Royal Blues will be hoping Newcastle submit a higher bid and that this time it’s accepted. 

Schalke set themselves a target of trying to make €15m in transfers this summer, given that their financial situation is so poor. A future sell-on fee for Thiaw would be a huge boost for a traditional club that has struggled in the second tier of German football for the past couple of years. 

GGFN | Jamie Allen

Sport Bild report that Schalke have rejected an offer of €5m plus bonuses from an unnamed foreign club for Sylla, who is already off the mark this season after scoring in die Königsblauen’s opening day 2-1 win against Hertha Berlin. S04 are holding out for a total package between €7m and €8m with a base fee of €6m.

Schalke 04’s financial situation could lead to Moussa Sylla sale

As reported via our colleagues at Get French Football News in June, Stade Rennais and Paris FC are among those interested in signing former AS Monaco forward Sylla (25). The Mali international cost just €2.5m from Ligue 2 side Pau FC in July 2024 and given the club’s financial situation, it would be difficult for Schalke to turn down such a return on investment.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder

The Royal Blues will certainly want to improve on last season after finishing just three points above the relegation playoff, which prompted the club to appoint Muslić following Plymouth’s relegation from the Championship. Appointing the Austrian-Bosnian – who made his name as head coach of Cercle Brugge – was certainly a coup by Schalke, and it signals their intent heading into the 2025/26 season.

Although the bar is certainly low for Schalke, who have flirted with relegation from the 2. Bundesliga after consistently finishing in the bottom half since dropping down a division. Muslić – who remains their most exciting appointment in some time – is S04’s fifth head coach to take charge since their relegation. The Royal Blues should at least have the ability to challenge for promotion, but it’s a long season ahead, and fans certainly won’t get carried away.

The Moussa Sylla show

Schalke fans will be hoping that Sylla – who scored 16 league goals in 27 games – remains fit for the entire campaign as they look to return to the Bundesliga following their relegation in April 2023. The Malian forward – who had interest from Milan in January – certainly has an eye for goal and was one of the 2. Bundesliga’s leading players last season. The 25-year-old only had 27 touches, but registered six shots – four were on target – which shows his intent, and how accurate his shooting is.

GGFN | Daniel Pinder

Incredible atmospheres and fan culture

Until 1. FC Köln and Hamburg were promoted at the end of last season, the 2. Bundesliga for several years boasted more former German champions than the top flight. Storied clubs steeped in tradition and backed by huge followings – not just across Germany but around the world – find themselves languishing below their standards of decades gone by. All this makes for some incredible atmospheres that must be seen to be believed. And when you factor in the cost of a matchday ticket and beer, not to mention the free transport to the game, then no country rivals Germany.

It’s impossible to predict

For much of last season, 10 clubs were firmly in the promotion race until the final weeks, with the eventual top nine clubs separated by just 10 points. Elversberg upset the apple cart by finishing third and making it to the relegation playoff, just one point behind HSV. The league is simply impossible to predict, anyone can beat anyone and remains fiercely tight throughout. With a host of sides missing out on Bundesliga promotion last season, and the additions of relegated VfL Bochum and Holstein Kiel, along with 3. Liga newcomers Dynamo Dresden and none other than DFB Pokal finalists Arminia Bielefeld, the upcoming campaign promises to be even more unpredictable than the last.

A league of sleeping giants and big names

FC Köln and HSV may have earned promotion back into the top flight – the latter after a seven-year absence – but there are still a number of sleeping giants in the 2. Bundesliga. 1. FC Nürnberg, a nine-time German champion, have found themselves languishing in the second division since 2019. 1. FC Kaiserslautern – who won the Bundesliga in 1998 – found themselves in the 3. Liga in 2022 but since returned and narrowly missed out on the promotion playoff. Schalke 04 and Hertha Berlin are two clubs steeped in history with exceptional fanbases, but find themselves stuck in the second division while Hannover will also be eager to return to the Bundesliga under Christian Titz. And when it comes to big names, there are few bigger than Miroslav Klose in German football, who coaches FC Nürnberg in what is his first professional coaching job.

GGFN | Harry Good 

It’s believed that the second bid surpasses just over €10m, including all add-ons. Nürnberg were hoping for a bid closer to €15m, but with Jander also wanting the move, the offer could be accepted in the coming days.

The 22-year-old midfielder has already agreed on personal terms with the Bundesliga club and is eager to make the move to the top flight. 

It’s been quite the rise for Jander. In the space of two years, he’s gone from the 3. Liga with MSV Duisburg, to FC Nürnberg for one season, and now the Bundesliga. 

Jander has been a regular during his time at Der Club, having featured 32 times in the league last season, scoring three goals. 

His efforts have also seen him make the Germany U21s squad this summer.

VfB are now very close to signing the promising youngster.  

GGFN | Jamie Allen