Who will FC Schalke 04 bring in during the winter break? Sporting director Peter Knäbel has his eye on a player from FSV Mainz 05. Niklas Tauer is to come.

Slightly less than three million euros are available to Bundesliga finalists FC Schalke 04 for squad improvements in the winter break – and coach Thomas Reis had announced in an interview with WAZ for which positions the Königsblauen are looking: “We are looking for someone for the centre and fast players for the outsides.”

After winger Tim Skarke (1. FC Union Berlin), a second name has now become known. According to RS information, Schalke is trying to find Niklas Tauer (FSV Mainz 05) – Bild reported first. The 21-year-old plays in defensive midfield.

Tauer is a Mainz boy – he was born there, has played for FSV since the age of eleven, developed into a U18, U19 and U20 international and signed a professional contract valid until June 2025. However, he has not made many Bundesliga appearances so far. He has made 19 Bundesliga appearances in three years, including three in the current season. Schalke’s chief scout André Hechelmann knows Tauer well from their times together at Mainz.

Another addition could come from his own club. Soichiro Kozuki from the U23 team impressed in the two test matches during winter preparation. The 21-year-old is the best marksman in Schalke’s regional league team (14 games, 8 goals). “He has a super first touch,” Reis said after the 3:4 in Split when asked by this newspaper and hinted at taking Kozuki to the training camp in Belek (2 to 11 January 2023).

Two players have already left Schalke this winter. Kerim Calhanoglu (SV Sandhausen) and Florian Flick (1. FC Nürnberg) are moving to the 2nd Bundesliga on loan.

Tauer is not significantly better or more experienced than Flick – does that make the switch contradictory? Not necessarily. Flick should gain match practice and will do so at the “Club”. At Schalke, Tom Krauß and Alex Kral have secured two of the three positions in Reis’ 4-3-3 system. There is a tough battle for the third place – Florent Mollet, Danny Latza and Dominick Drexler are involved, for example.