Schöpf Departs Bayern II for Nürnberg; Kossou, Steinhart Arrive from 1860 Munich

Blocked by World Class talent in the senior team, Alessandro Schöpf has transferred to 1. FC Nürnberg, according to the club's website. Bild is reporting a transfer fee of €400,000 with Schöpf signing a five-year deal.

"With this transfer, I want to utilize the chance for the next step in my development," said Schöpf.

Bayern München, who signed Schöpf to a three-year professional contract last fall, reportedly have a buyback clause in the transfer. The 20-year-old scored 11 goals and recorded 4 assists in the Regionalliga last season in 34 appearances with Bayern II, and was also invited to the senior team's winter training camp in Qatar.

Schöpf becomes the second reserve in the past week to depart for first team action, Raif Husic leaving for €100,000 to join Werder Bremen. The fact that both have Buyback clause might look encouraging, but with Emre Can transferring to Liverpool earlier this month, the clause gives no guarantee that either will return to Bayern. He also is the tenth Bayern reserve player to leave – Dennis Chessa (VfR Aalen), Christian Derfinger (Hamburger SV II), Kevin Friesenbichler (SL Benfica), Niklas Horn (SpVgg Neckarelz), Husic (Werder Bremen), Vladimir Rankovic (Hannover 96), Benno Schmitz (RB Salzburg), David Vrgozic (Dynamo Dresden), and Daniel Wein (Wehen Wiesbaden).

Bayern II may have lost their best playmaker, but two more players have signed on a free contract to join the reserves. Left-back Philipp Steinhart and left midfielder Kodjovi "Nono" Kossou have both signed on a free transfer from TSV 1860 München II. The 21-year-old Steinhart had two goals seven assists in 30 appearances with the 1860 reserves while 22-year-old Nono recorded one assist in 14 appearances. Both participated in 1860 München II's two-legged defeat in the promotional playoff to SV Elversberg in 2013.

With the two new arrivals, Bayern II now have seven new arrivals along with goalkeeper Ivan Lucic, defender Herbert Paul, midfielders Lukas Görtler and Sebastian Bösel, and striker Gerrit Wegkamp. The reserves will also promote defenders Giuseppe Leo and Patrick Puchegger as well as midfielders Steven Ribéry, Riccardo Basta and Lennart Ingmann from Bayern's U19 team, giving the side a completely new look going into the 2014/15 Regionalliga season.

The 1860 München II additions also come in the context of a rumor that Ylli Sallahi may depart the club. Merkur reported earlier in June that the 20-year-old, who made his professional debut with Bayern against Augsburg, will be one of the next reserves to leave. His contract runs through next season, so a transfer for the Austrian would have to come with a fee, but now with Steinhart and Nono, Bayern has some cover on the left side with the second team.

The shakeup with the reserves may appear to be expansive, but such turnover is normal with Bayern's second team. A few home-grown players in the current team, including David Alaba, Toni Kroos, and Philipp Lahm, received regular minutes elsewhere before returning to Bayern to grow into world class players. Cautionary tales, including Emre Can and Mats Hummels, certainly exist, but Bayern's stars of tomorrow will always thirst for playing time.