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Gelsenkirchen (dpa) - Blessing for the empty club coffers, reinforcement for the team - FC Schalke ended the transfer period with a spectacular player swap in defense.
The Bundesliga team has handed over the Turkish international Ozan Kabak to the English champions Liverpool FC with his coach Jürgen Klopp.
Kabak changes on loan until the end of the season, according to Schalke there is a purchase option for Liverpool in the contract.
The bottom of the table signed Shkodran Mustafi from Arsenal and gave the former national player a contract until the end of the season.
The 26-year-old central defender is looking forward to a new challenge after only three appearances with a total of 44 minutes at the Premier League club this season.
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“You have to look at this change from two perspectives: From an economic point of view, the transfer of Ozan Kabak makes a lot of sense for Schalke 04, especially with a view to the effects of the corona pandemic,” said sports director Jochen Schneider according to the announcement.
"In addition, we are convinced that with Shkodran Mustafi we have been able to sign a very good central defender who will fill the sporting void that Ozan will undoubtedly leave behind."
The coup was made possible by the transfer of Kabak, who is in the course of Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp high.
According to media reports, FC Schalke could expect an income of around 30 million euros for the loan with an alleged purchase option.
The player swap is a last-ditch attempt to help the team achieve more quality in the relegation battle.
With so far only eight points from 19 games and a distance to the saving bank of nine points, the club bosses felt a great need for action.
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Mustafi is the fourth new signing this winter after Klaas-Jan Huntelaar (Ajax Amsterdam), Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal FC) and William (VfL Wolfsburg).
In addition, the 19-year-old striker Matthew Hoppe received his first professional contract until 2023.
Regardless of how the relegation battle ends, Schalke will have to say goodbye to an old friend in the summer.
Huub Stevens is retiring from the supervisory board after three years in office, announced the 67-year-old, who coached Schalke twice over a longer period and stepped in twice as interim coach in 2019 and 2020.
He made his decision with a "heavy heart", said Stevens, who was voted "coach of the century" by the Schalke fans.
“I've seen a lot in the past three years and I didn't think I would sit on the bench two more times,” said Stevens in an interview on the club's website: “I'm 67 years old and I believe that now a good time is to just take care of my family. "
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Schalke announcement on Mustafi / Kabak