With the curtain coming down on the 2022/23 Bundesliga season, and Bayern Munich claiming their 11th consecutive Meisterschale, not everyone is celebrating. While the Relegation Playoff is still yet to be decided (Stuttgart with a commanding 3-0 aggregate lead heading to Hamburg on Monday), we know both Hertha Berlin (18th/29 pts) and Schalke (17th/31 pts) will be dropping to the 2. Bundesliga for the 2023/24 season.
While Hertha and Schalke finished at the bottom of the table, there is still some value to be found within these squads. It is not uncommon to find a player or two that possesses the potential and ability to contribute despite finishing at the bottom of the league. With Bayern Munich making changes at the board level and key players like Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard possibly looking for a new challenge, both Hertha and Schalke provide the opportunity to find valuable contributors.
Lucas Tousart
Defensive Midfielder- Hertha Berlin
Transfermarkt value: €11 million
With Bayern and Tuchel’s pursuit of Declan Rice and the reports of the Bayern Hierarchy wanting to break up the Goretzka and Kimmich partnership, it’s becoming clear the club is looking for a more defensive midfielder to pair with Kimmich. Tousart offers you a midfielder that can not only protect the backline, link play, and free up Kimmich to be a more advanced midfielder but also, as his five goals and three assists in the Bundesliga this season shows, he’s capable of adding some value in attack as well.
Marton Dardai
Center-back – Hertha Berlin
Transfermarkt: €4 million
At just 21 years old, the Germany U-21 center-back is definitely one for the future, but he gives me Mats Hummels vibes. Son of Hertha manager, Pal Dardai, Marton is very composed on the ball, has no problem within the build breaking lines with his passing range, and is comfortable enough to carry the ball into the midfield. He possesses great athleticism and strength for the modern pressing game. Similar to Hummels, you can tell he is the son of a manager as he showcases great positional sense along the backline. With Bulinews reporting last May that five Bundesliga clubs showed interest in Marton, Bayern may want to move pretty quickly.
Rodrigo Zalazar
Central Midfielder- FC Schalke 04
Transfermarkt value: €3.5 million
I know…I know…NOT ANOTHER MIDFIELDER. Hear me out though. Zalazar isn’t your typical Bayern Munich midfielder. While he has no problem pressing high and putting in recovery challenges (this is a must when playing for Thomas Reis), where he really excels is his abilities on the ball. Zalazar possesses creativity in the final third with his vision and passing range and thrives with the ball at his feet in attacking areas. Given that Jamal Musiala is the only true creative midfielder in the squad, offering Zalazar the opportunity to provide attacking depth centrally wouldn’t be a bad option for the value.
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Moritz Jenz
Center-back- FC Schalke 04 (On Loan from FC Lorient)
Transfermarkt value: €5.5 million
This one is a bit trickier as Schalke does not own the rights to Jenz, but after spending the first half of the season with Scottish Champions Celtic, he helped sure up a rocky defense in the second half of the Bundesliga. Albeit not enough to help Schalke avoid the drop, he does provide a team with a strong aerial presence and is a good ball-winner especially higher up the field. While you won’t see Jenz threading balls and driving into the midfield while in possession, he does provide you with solid defensive cover along the backline, especially if Bayern Munich is to lose both Hernandez and Pavard.
No doubt Bayern will be busy this summer in the transfer market as the team looks to get back on track in the Champions League, and with faith now fully invested in Thomas Tuchel, the club would do well to look for some value signing to add some depth pieces.
