Exclusive – Schalke are guilty of bidding from a handful of Premier League sides who want to sign 20-year-old American forward Matthew Hoppe.
Hoppe advanced at the beginning of 2021 with a Hattrick in a 4-0 victory against Hoffenheim that triggered a run of five goals in just three games, and 90 minutes already revealed in February that sides from all over Europe closely followed young people forward.
Sources have since confirmed to 90 Minutes in Germany that interest in Hoppe has not disappeared and there are four Premier League sites that are currently preparing bids for the 20-year-old.
Tottenham, Southampton, Newcastle and Wolves are all expected to reach out to Schalke in the coming days with offers, and there is optimism that the German side can be convinced to sell at the right price.
Schalke are facing well-publicized financial problems – debts of £ 175 million were reported before the COVID-19 suspension – and have seen their problems worsen due to their relegation from the Bundesliga, so club officials have decided selling players should be their top priority this summer.
Schalke is ready to sell some players / Lars Baron / Getty Images
The German side would obviously prefer to keep Hoppe, who scored six goals in 22 games last season, but there is an acceptance that it may be time to make money on the highly ranked American.
Sources close to the situation believe that Hoppe is staying closer to a move to the Premier League, where the above-mentioned four clubs are among the most interested of the 20-year-old.
Hoppe is aware of the interest from the Premier League / INA FASSBENDER / Getty Images
Hoppe has received looks from most of Europe’s elite, including the English English sides Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea in the past, and Schalke’s relegation from the Bundesliga has convinced many of his suitors to formalize their interest.
Schalke hopes to get back a large fee for Hoppe but will be limited in their demands by his contract. The American signed a new deal in February 2021, but that contract still has only two years left to run.
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