Schalke reel in French veteran Mollet, new keeper may follow soon

Capping a busy day at FC Schalke 04, sporting director Rouven Schröder and the administrative team unveiling their second official signing of the day on Wednesday evening.

French midfielder Florent Mollet joins die Knappen on a contract through 2025. 

There are reports surfacing that Schalke are also close to obtaining Rot-Weiß Oberhausen keeper Justin Heekeren. 

FC Schalke 04 have finalized the transfer of one of their top summer transfer targets. Thirty-year-old French midfielder Florent Mollet will don the royal blue tricot next season. The club confirmed Mollet’s arrival on Wednesday evening. Despite the fact that the Montpelier man retains an estimated market value of some €6 million, Rouven Schröder and S04 front office were able to secure his transfer for a base fee of €500,000 plus unspecified bonuses.

“After many years in France, I’m really looking forward to the challenge of playing for Schalke 04 in the Bundesliga,” Mollet noted in a press release, “I made a conscious decision to take this step and will do everything I can to play a successful season with the team and keep them in the top flight.”

“Florent has above-average footballing intelligence and solid spatial awareness,” new S04 trainer Frank Kramer noted, ” his skills will enhance our offensive variability and while also improving our work against the ball.”

“In order to survive in the Bundesliga, we need players in our ranks who can lend the team experience, stability and the necessary cleverness,” Schröder himself said regarding the signing, “Florent is one such a player. He is a technically very adept and creative central midfielder who has played over 300 professional games in France.”

Earlier in the day, the Königsblauen confirmed the signing of FC Heidenheim winger Tobias Mohr. German footballing magazine Kicker reports that a third signing within 24 hours should be on the way soon. Rot-Weiß Oberhausen’s Justin Heekeren is set to sign a long-term deal with the team.

The fourth-tier net minder’s acquisition in all likelihood doesn’t affect Schröder’s search for a new #1, however. Reports that the Westphalians seek to haul in Hertha’s Alexander Schwolow persist.

Verstärkung für die Kreativzentrale: Der #S04 verpflichtet Florent Mollet vorbehaltlich aller regulatorischen Prozesse vom französischen Erstligisten @MontpellierHSC 🆕

Glück auf et bonne chance, Florent! 🙌🏽

— FC Schalke 04 (@s04) June 8, 2022

Kommt da noch mehr, Rouven? 🥵 https://t.co/KqlkMbZz1o

— FC Schalke 04 (@s04) June 8, 2022

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