Next on our Bundesliga top three signings preview are Ruhrpott giants Schalke 04. After last season's second place finish, Die Königsblauen will be looking to challenge FC Bayern München for top spot.
Suat Serdar (FSV Mainz 05, €11m)
Schalke 04 has for a long time has been a club that has favoured up and coming talent, both through their own academy and sharp signings. Their biggest signing of the summer so far maintains this trend.
For a sum of 11 million Euro from FSV Mainz 05, German Under-21 starlet Suat Serdar makes his way to Gelsenkirchen, as young coach Domenico Tedesco looks to bolster his midfield following the departure of attacking midfielder Max Meyer to EPL side Crystal Palace.
Serdar played 25 times for Mainz last season, scoring twice. One of the latest in a long line of German players of Turkish descent, the 21 year old has been touted as a future international. Playing at the top level and in the Champions League for Schalke could provide the perfect viewing window for national coach Jogi Löw.
Omar Mascarell (Real Madrid, €10m)
Lined up as the perfect replacement for Leon Goretzka, former Spanish Under-21 international Omar Mascarell is another player who looks like a perfect fit at Schalke.
The 25 year old Tenerife native was on the books at Real Madrid, before moving to Eintracht Frankfurt for just 1.5 million Euro in the summer of 2016. Mascarell only played nine times in 2017/18, but did star for Die Adler in their shock 3-1 win over Bayern in the DFB-Pokal final.
After Real activated Mascarell's buyout clause two years into his three year contract for 4 million Euro, he was then sold to Schalke for 10 million Euro. Good business for the Spanish giants, but perhaps a bit of a gamble for Schalke.
Mark Uth (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim, free)
Arguably the canniest of Schalke's summer signings, striker Mark Uth is one of those players who has somehow managed to stay under the radar. Valued at around 18 to 20 million Euro, his free transfer to Schalke is a smart piece of business.
In a league that is packed with overseas strikers, Uth found the back of the net 29 times in 78 appearances for Hoffenheim - making one of the best home-grown goal scorers. 2017/18 was a solid season for the 26 year old Cologne native. In 31 appearances, he scored 14 goals and contributed eight assists.
For many Bundesliga-watchers, Uth, who has also played in the Netherlands for Heerenveen and Heracles Almelo, was a decent outside bet for national team selection. If he can up his game at the Veltins-Arena, it may not be long before the Germany coach is knocking on his door.
For more Bundesliga fun stuff, check out my Little Bundesliga Book project. Copies of the 2016 pocket book are still available, with the aim of raising funds for a new edition at the end of this season.
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