Sven Ulreich thinks Bayern Munich should pass on Schalke’s Alexander Nübel

In the wake of the calf injury Manuel Neuer suffered in Bayern Munich’s win over Fortuna Düsseldorf, and partly out of concern for Neuer’s recent injury history, the club has been linked with a summer move for Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Nübel. Nübel hypothetically could replace Neuer once his time with Bayern is done. Current second-goalkeeper Sven Ulreich, however, thinks that Nübel is unlikely to come. In a recent interview with SportBild, Ulreich explained why he thinks it would be a pointless idea for Bayern:

I don’t think that he’d like to sit on the bench behind Manu at 22 years old. I think, if he were to come, he’d want to play. That’s why it doesn’t make any sense in my view. Manuel is under contract and is absolutely undisputed.

As Neuer’s current number two, it’s completely natural that Ulreich wouldn’t welcome the signing of his own potential replacement. For Nübel, Ulreich feels, it would be wiser to stay with Schalke where he could continue to be the number-one keeper ahead of Ralf Fährmann instead of being Neuer’s number two at Bayern. “I don’t think that Alexander Nübel would like to come here to be number two, when he can play at Schalke,” Ulreich said

In light of Schalke’s thoroughly disappointing season, it’s difficult to pick out many players who have delivered consistently solid performances, but Nübel has been a bright spot in the Rückrunde. Ever since taking over the number-one keeper spot ahead of Fährmann, he’s shown that he can be a long-term solution for the club, thus piquing even peaked Bayern’s interest. Additionally, Nübel’s contract with Schalke expires in 2020. Time is running out for Schalke to extend or sell him before he potentially leaves the club on a free transfer.

Per a report by Sport1 last week, Schalke are doing everything in their power to keep hold of Nübel, but his agent feels that he should be free to leave if he wants to. There are many moving parts here, but if the price is right, and Nübel himself concurs, a move for him could be a wise investment for Bayern.