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Update: 6:25PM EST
The Worldwide Leader in Sports is having a day.
There is some social debate about ESPN Deportes report on Bayern Munich’s alleged interest in Schalke 04’s Matthew Hoppe.
Twitter account @BL_LatestNews captured another ESPN piece, which it believes ESPN Deportes misconstrued:
ESPN US have published an article about five transfers they'd like to happen this summer - with Hoppe to Bayern for €20m one of them. The Mexican colleagues at @ESPNDeportes got something quite wrong there... https://t.co/Y6IKPkpxHV
— Bundesliga Latest (@BL_LatestNews) March 24, 2021
As we noted in the BFW Analysis below: Schalke 04 needs money, but getting €20 million for a striker to sit behind Robert Lewandowski seemed a bit out-of-wack. It would not be shocking for Schalke 04 to sell Hoppe, but Bayern Munich could be considered a longshot.
Original Post
Per a report from ESPN Deportes, Bayern Munich is interested in Schalke 04 striker Matthew Hoppe. The 20-year-old American prospect has burst on to the Bundesliga scene this season and apparently has caught the eye of Bayern Munich:
Bayern Munich appear to be close to having a new reinforcement for next season. According to ESPN, Schalke 04 forward Matthew Hoppe could sign with the Bavarian club in the near future. The idea is to negotiate the ‘new Lewandowski’ for Bayern Munich. The amounts could reach up to 20 million euros.
Bayern’s idea is to have a future replacement for Robert Lewandowski. The big dream is Erling Haaland, however, the Norwegian looks too expensive even for Bayern. Hoppe thus becomes a viable option, mainly because he is still 19 years old (Editor’s note: Hoppe is 20) and is an option on the bench.
Hoppe’s quick rise to fame previously caught the attention of both Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur. The youngster has five goals in 18 games across all competitions this season for Schalke 04.
BFW Analysis
Schalke 04 needs money...a lot of money...but, it is hard to see Bayern Munich paying €20 million for a back-up striker during this summer transfer window. It is not that it can’t happen, but that it would seem to go against the philosophy the team is reportedly set to take in looking for inexpensive depth options.
Hoppe, a California native who starred at the FC Barcelona Residential Academy in Arizona, absolutely has talent, but it remains to be seen truly how interested in Bayern Munich is in the USMNT hopeful. Certainly the Bavarians will be assessing all of the options to play behind Lewandowski for next season, which currently include Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Fiete Arp, and Parma-loanee Joshua Zirkzee. Hoppe would seemingly fit the profile Bayern Munich likes. Tall, rangy, and skilled, Hoppe has tantalizing potential.
Journalist Manuel Veth also chimed in with his take on the story. Like BFW, Veth does not see the €20 million being realistic at this stage:
Should note, #Bayern monitor many players. Hoppe has been watched by some people at the Rekordmeister's analytics department, that isn't a major surprise and not enough to turn this into a major transfer report as my Mexican colleagues have done.
— Dr. Manuel Veth (@ManuelVeth) March 24, 2021
Transfermarket currently has Hoppe valued at €3 million.