Playing for 90
Fansided

Nabil Bentaleb may bring Schalke teammate with him to Tottenham

By Rucker Haringey

HAMBURG, GERMANY - DECEMBER 20: Maximilian Meyer of Schalke appears frustrated during the Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and FC Schalke 04 at Volksparkstadion on December 20, 2016 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Oliver Hardt/Bongarts/Getty Images)
HAMBURG, GERMANY - DECEMBER 20: Maximilian Meyer of Schalke appears frustrated during the Bundesliga match between Hamburger SV and FC Schalke 04 at Volksparkstadion on December 20, 2016 in Hamburg, Germany. (Photo by Oliver Hardt/Bongarts/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Instead of selling one player to Schalke, Tottenham may purchase one

When the season began, it seemed pretty obvious that Tottenham would sell Nabil Bentaleb to Schalke at some point this season. However, things in football can change quickly. Now it seems that Bentaleb could be set to return to White Hart Lane and another one of his talented teammates might join him.

First, reports are beginning to trickle out of Germany that Bentaleb may not want to stay with Schalke if they fail to qualify for European football. They currently sit 11th in the Bundesliga table without much hope for sufficient improvement to make the Europa League field. If Bentaleb wants European football next season, he’s going to have to return to Tottenham.

Of course, it’s still possible that Spurs would elect to sell him to another club. The Algerian midfielder and manager Mauricio Pochettino clearly weren’t seeing eye-to-eye when he left for Germany. A substantial amount of fence mending would need to occur to get him back in the gaffer’s good graces.

Perhaps the most interesting development, is the possibility that Tottenham may be targeting one of Bentaleb’s most talented teammates. Attacking midfielder Max Meyer isn’t a new name in terms of Spurs’ transfer targets. German sources claimed that Pochettino has tried to swoop for him several times in the past.

Fortunately for Tottenham, Meyer has steadfastly refused to extend his contract with Schalke. As his current deal winds down, the Bundesliga club loses more and more leverage. His current deal ends in the summer of 2018. Schalke will need to sell him this summer if want to receive a respectable fee for the German international.

More from Tottenham Hotspur

Spurs could try to take advantage of his expiring contract. Originally, Schalke were looking to receive a fee of approximately £40 million for their talented starlet. They may be forced to accept a fee of somewhere closer to £20 million if they can’t reach a contract agreement with him this summer.

That sort of price reduction would make him a great value purchase for Spurs. The club will try to exercise frugality wherever possible while they’re trying to pay for the new White Hart Lane. Purchasing a young, German international for a relatively modest transfer fee would be right in Daniel Levy’s wheelhouse.

Next: Tottenham will profit on Sissoko sale

Instead of losing a player to Schalke, it seems that Tottenham may gain one this summer. There’s a long way to go in the transfer saga of Max Meyer, but Spurs certainly have an opportunity to scoop him up for a very reasonable price.

Home/Tottenham Hotspur