Mehmet Can Aydin is on loan from FC Schalke 04 to Trabzonspor. However, S04 definitely has a need in his position. Does this now present an opportunity for an early return?

In Turkey, things can move pretty quickly sometimes. Just a few weeks after the Turkish media were singing the praises of right-back Mehmet Can Aydin, who is on loan from FC Schalke 04 to Turkish top club Trabzonspor until the end of the season, they are now saying that he would be best off leaving the club during the winter break.

This was reported by several Turkish online portals, citing information from club circles. But what is the truth behind this story? The fact is: the 21-year-old, for whom Trabzonspor has a purchase option worth around 1.4 million euros at the end of the season, has played ten of the first 16 games of the season.

That doesn’t look so bad at first. It is also a fact that he only sat on the bench for the last three games. Do the Schalke, who certainly have a need on the right back position alongside Cedric Brunner, have the chance to bring Aydin back in January?

However, it seems far-fetched to conclude from this that Aydin is supposed to leave the club again during the current transfer period. After all, it was clear from the outset that Aydin would be competing with the experienced Danish international Jens Stryger Larsen for the position. During the first series, the Würselen-born player, who was said to have fallen into a performance slump, also benefited from injuries to other players.

Now, Larsen has been back in the lineup for the last three games. However, Larsen also made a hair-raising mistake in the last game (2-1) at Istanbulspor and is now supposedly on the chopping block for the winter himself. Therefore, another option on the right side of defense is to be considered for the upcoming game.

But Trabzonspor will have signed Aydin on loan knowing that the 32-year-old Dane’s contract expires at the end of the season and is not to be extended. Aydin should be groomed as a potential successor. It seems unlikely that this plan would be shelved after just six months, even though Aydin was convincing at the beginning of the season. Even in Turkey.