Wolfsburg sign Müller and loan out Schulze
As had been rumored, FC Schalke 04 starting goalkeeper Marius Müller will be moving to VfL Wolfsburg. Germany's green company team confirmed the signing of the 30-year-old on Tuesday. Various German footballing media sources report that the Königsblauen have received €1-2 million for their #1 net-minder. Wolfsburg are in search of a new #1 following the departure of long-time starter Koen Casteels on an expiring contract.
Müller looks to be slated for the back-up role after Polish keeper Kamil Grabara was signed from FC Copenhagen for a reported €10.3 million last autumn. It remains unclear as to whether Müller or Pavao Pervan (who started nine times this past season and has 34 Bundesliga appearances to his credit) will serve as Grabara's back-up. Neither Müller nor Wolfsburg's #3 from last season, Niklas Klinger, have ever made a Bundesliga start.
Die Wölfe have in any event taken care of one of their potential goalkeeping prospects for the future. Twenty-one-year-old Philipp Schulze spent last year on loan with 3. Liga side Hallescher FC, making 14 starts for the relegated club. Wolfsburg have loaned the prospect out to another third division team for next season. Schulze will get an opportunity to earn playing time for SC Verl.
Schalke themselves have signed former FC Bayern München and Sunderland AFC keeper Ron-Thorben Hoffmann to mind the net for them next season. S04 sporting director Marc Wilmots issued a statement wishing Müller well while VfL manager Sebastian Schindzielorz called Müller "the perfect addition to our goalkeeping team."