How the new Schalke 04 side could look By Rune Gjerulff

Schalke 04 have invested €31,5 million in five new players and apparently don't have any plans for further signings. We take a look at how the new Schalke side could look this season.

It has already been a busy summer for Schalke 04. While notable players such as Max Meyer (released), Leon Goretzka (Bayern München, free transfer) and Marco Pjaca (Juventus, end of loan) have all left the club, five new faces have been brought in for a total of €31,5 million.





Suar Serdar (Mainz, €11 million), Omar Mascarell (Real Madrid, €10 million), Salif Sané (Hannover 96, €7 million), Steven Skrzybski (Union Berlin, €3,5 million) and Mark Uth (Hoffenheim, free transfer) have all joined 'The Royal Blues' who apparently don't plan to sign any other players this summer.



"We don't have any current plans for further signings. We got our business done early. But we'll certainly keep a close watch on the market," Schalke sporting director Christian Heidel said yesterday according to the club's Twitter profile.



After the first public training of the new season yesterday, where around 2.000 fans showed up to greet the Schalke team, coach Domenico Tedesco said that he is very happy about the new signings.



"Many of the players made a very good impression. There is a positive sense of unity in the camp," Tedesco said according to Schalke's Twitter profile and added:



"We're delighted with our new signings. Both their playing style and personalities fit in very well here."





The central defense has been bolstered by Senegalese international Salif Sané who was arguably among the best centre-backs in the Bundesliga at Hannover 96 last season.



After a strong season at Eintracht Frankfurt, Omar Mascarell was re-signed by Real Madrid, but then sold to Schalke 04, and the Spaniard will add physicality and defensive stability to the team.



The central midfield has also been strengthened by the dynamic Suat Serdar, a player who showed at Mainz that he isn't afraid to throw himself into tackles in midfield, but that he's also good with the ball at his feet and likes to come forward.



Further up the pitch, Steven Skrzybski and Mark Uth have will add quality to the offense. Skrzybski, who can both play as a winger and up front, had a striking season at Union Berlin in the 2. Bundesliga, scoring 14 goals in 29 appearances. Mark Uth had his best season at Hoffenheim since joining from Heerenveen in 2015, making 31 Bundesliga appearances with 14 goals and eight assists to his name.



Now, with the new signings introduced, below is an early estimate of how Schalke could line up for the first match in the new season against Wolfsburg on August 25.



Ralf Fährmann - Salif Sané, Naldo, Matija Nastasic - Daniel Caligiuri, Suat Serdar, Omar Mascarell, Alessandro Schöpf - Mark Uth, Amine Harit - Guido Burgstaller.



Bench: Alexander Nübel, Thilo Kehrer, Weston McKennie, Nabil Bentaleb, Yevhen Konoplyanka, Steven Skrzybski, Breel Embolo.



Before the new Bundesliga season starts, Schalke will concentrate on their upcoming trip to China where they will be up against Southampton (on Thursday) and Hebei China Fortuna (next Wednesday).





