Milan sign Thiaw - Schalke to loan Van Den Berg from Liverpool?

Bundesliga side Schalke have sold Malick Thiaw to Milan. Both clubs announced the transfer on Monday evening. The 21-year-old has signed a contract until 2027 at the Italian Serie A side. Depending on the media report, Schalke could receive up to €10 million plus €2 million. The transfer could potentially open the door for Sepp van den Berg to join on loan from Liverpool. 

“It was a difficult decision for us to let Malick go," Schalke sporting director Rouven Schröder said in a club statement. "He is a home-grown talent, a product of our Knappenschmiede, and has developed fantastically over the past years. He would have been an asset to our squad. We also need to consider the financial element when it comes to decisions like this – just like last winter when we rejected a transfer offer. The circumstances are different this time and it made sense financially for us to agree to the deal.”

Despite being promoted back to the Bundesliga, Schalke still remain in a financially difficult situation. Added Board member for finance Christina Rühl-Hamers: “The transfer fee for Malick Thiaw allows us to meet our financial targets proposed at the start of the window. It offers us more room to maneuver financially when it comes to other issues and challenges that still lie ahead.”

Thiaw to Milan - Van Den Berg set to come in from LFC? 

Thiaw's departure now opens the door for Liverpool's Van den Berg to come in on loan. The 20-year-old Dutch center-back, who spent the 2021/22 season on loan at Championship side Preston North End (one goal and one assist in 45 games), is currently in Gelsenkirchen for talks with die Knappen. Sport1 reported on Monday night that Schalke are favorites for a loan transfer but that another Bundesliga side is also involved.