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Schalke brass speak on futures of Kolodziejczak, Boujellab, and Ibrahima Cissé

By Peter Weis   @PeterVicey

After they found no way of offloading the trio before the transfer window, acting Schalke 04 sporting director Peter Knäbel and head-coach Thomas Reis have spoken on the future squad prospects of Timothee Kolodziejczak, Nassim Boujellab, and Ibrahima Cissé. 
Thomas Reis
Thomas ReisFC Schalke 04
Despite the stated desire to offload them during the just-completed January transfer window, acting Schalke 04 sporting director Peter Knäbel has admitted there was "simply no interest" in either Timothee Kolodziejczak or Nassim Boujellab from other clubs. Kolodziejczak - an emergency signing this past autumn after injuries ravaged the defensive corps - made just one appearance before being relegated to the reserves.


The case of Boujellab is somewhat different. The 23-year-old, after making 12 appearances and scoring a goal for Schalke in the top flight during the 2020/21, was once considered a solid developmental prospect. Loan stints at FC Ingolstadt and HJK Helsinki nevertheless didn't pan out and it appears as if the club will let his expiring contract run out at the end of the season.

Boujellab just returned from his most recent loan spell at the beginning of January. Prospects that either Boujellab or Kolodziejczak will ever appear for the first team again appear slim. Head-coach Thomas Reis offered up a different outlook for 21-year-old youth international Ibrahima Cissé; who joined die Königblauen on a free in the summer.

Reis gave the oft-injured injured central defender a run-out in a midweek test fixture against Wattenscheid. Speaking after the match, the S04 trainer went so far as to liken the youngster's skill set to another player he once coached at Bochum. According to Reis, Cissé reminds him somewhat of German national team defender Armel Bella Kotchap; a bloomer sold to Southhampton for a record fee.

"He's doing well with the U23s," Reis said of Cissé, "If the lad fails, it's only because of what's in his head. A player of his caliber simply needs to ramp it up."

Cissé still awaits his first call up to a senior matchday squad, but has netted two goals already this year for Schalke II in the Regionalliga West. FC Schalke II success story Soichiro Kozuki has already blossomed since being called up to the senior side this past January. 


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