S04 gem Taylan Bulut was missing from the S04 squad for the test match against Twente Enschede. A sign?

FC Schalke 04 played 0-0 against Twente Enschede on Saturday in their penultimate test match before the start of the season. The team that is currently expected to face Hertha BSC was largely fielded. One player who was one of the few bright spots last season was not included, even though he is healthy. Taylan Bulut took his place alongside other players such as Anton Donkor, Bryan Lasme, and Peter Remmert in the covered seating area behind the goal and watched his teammates play from the sidelines. Is the 19-year-old already on his way out? Many clubs are said to be interested in the German U19 international, including SC Freiburg. And Schalke urgently needs money. Alongside Moussa Sylla, Bulut is one of two players in the squad who are therefore in the shop window. The Royal Blues will probably have to sell at least one of them. But that wasn’t the reason why the Knappenschmiede graduate, who played his way into the spotlight and into the team last season, wasn’t there. Muslic didn’t want to take any risks. He too has already recognized the defensive player’s great potential, but doesn’t want to rush things. “The boy had eight days off. He was with the national team, only just arrived in Stubaital and has now had his first 30 minutes,” Muslic explained.

That’s why the test against the Dutch came too early for him. He wants to give Bulut, like the other players, the time he needs to get fit. Because he thinks highly of him. “He’ll get 60 minutes against Ahlen. Everything is going according to plan,“ said the Austrian. And then he used a term that he has only used in connection with the team’s hoped-for top performers and pillars such as Timo Becker, Nicola Katic, and Kenan Karaman: performance player. ”He is also one of the performance players, even though he is still very, very young,” Muslic praised him.

Bulut could, if he is still with the Royal Blues, switch to the left side of defense. Or play in front of Timo Becker as a defensive midfielder. In the position currently occupied by Adrian Gantenbein. But probably not at the start of the season against Hertha BSC.