Schalke release Taitague to initiate roster reduction effort
FC Schalke 04's roster-pruning-process entered its next phase on Saturday with news that the club had terminated the contract of 21-year-old American attacker Nick Taitigue.
Many more moves are sure to follow.
For new trainer Christian Groß, there remains much to do in terms of reducing a hefty weekly payroll budget. On Saturday morning it was confirmed that the club would release attacking midfielder Nick Taitague, an academy prospect given a professional contract just this past September. The US international never made an appearance for the senior side. He had even struggled to make the U23 starting XI recently.
Many more moves are sure to follow.
More moves to reduce the team's 31-man-active roster are considered a certainty. Groß has already stated that he has no plans for Nabil Bentaleb. In the Algerian's case, the club must find a buyer or loan destination for the controversial player in order to get his seven-figure salary off the books.
In an article earlier this week, Bulinews listed some of the S04 players who are most likely to be moved. German footballing magazine Kicker confirms that the club seeks outside options for Ozan Kabak, Rabbi Matondo and Ahmed Kutucu. Moroccan defender Hamza Mendyl is reportedly also the subject of transfer talks.