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#2 FC Schalke 04
It was a Bundesliga season like no other, the only familiarity being Bayern’s dominance at the top of the tree. Gladbach and Wolfsburg tightened their grips on second and third, leaving Schalke without Champions League action. This is something of a rarity for the Gelsenkirchen side and the club now sits in a position where new manager André Breitenreiter will have to send the excess baggage packing and invest wisely this window.
Johannes Geis has already signed on a four-year deal and avid Bundesliga fans will hope he can emulate last season’s heroics at Mainz, meanwhile, Joel Matip has been strongly linked with a £10-million move to Newcastle and Italian Davide Astori from Cagliari is rumoured to supersede the Cameroon international.
The clear-out would be complete if they send Max Choupo-Moting and Klass Jan-Huntelaar packing and make a shock move for Christian Benteke in order to abide by the fast-paced game Breitenreiter will be looking to play.
