Bayern Munich to sign Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Nubel at end of current season
Courtesy: @s04  |  Photo Credit: Twitter
Key Highlights
- Bayern Munich will sign Schalke goalkeeper Alexander Nubel at the end of the ongoing season
- Nubel’s current contract with Schalke ends on June 30, 2020
- The 23-year-old goalkeeper has signed a 5-year deal with the record German giants
Highly-rated German goalkeeper Alexander Nubel is set to join Bayern Munich at the end of the ongoing season. The 23-year-old’s current deal with Schalke will come to an end after the 2019-20 season which will allow him to join the Bundesliga giants for free. Bayern presently have Manuel Neuer as the No. 1 between the sticks, having signed the current Germany national team skipper, from Schalke too in 2011. Nubel has signed a 5-year deal with the record Bundesliga champions and will join as the back-up to Neuer, at least in the initial stages of his career in Bavaria.
Nubel had joined Schalke from Paderborn in 2015 and had quickly established himself as one of the most promising goalkeepers in the world. With Schalke placed 5th, three points adrift of third-placed Bayern in the Bundesliga standings at present, the former Germany U-21 international has made a total of 52 saves this season while keeping four clean sheets.
#FCBayern have signed Alexander Nübel for the 2020/21 season. pic.twitter.com/JeqJ8jA86q — FC Bayern English (@FCBayernEN) January 4, 2020
He is set to challenge Neuer who is entering the twilight of his career at 33 years of age and has become a little injury-prone of late. Nubel is expected to play the role of Neuer’s deputy for the time being while current No. 2 Sven Ulreich would expect to leave the German giants as Nubel’s arrival puts him further down in the pecking order.
Reports over the communication between Bayern and Neuer over the signing of Nubel also emerged in the past few weeks where the club had allegedly told Neuer that they want him to give a few games to Nubel as the latter learns his trade at the highest level between the sticks. The veteran goalkeeper, however, was reportedly unwilling to do the same, giving birth to a similar situation that currently persists in the German national team.
Goalkeepers, at the age of 33, aren’t considered too old or vulnerable. With Neuer still operating at the highest level despite his recent injury troubles, the goalkeeping camp at Bayern seem to be preparing for the future with the signing of Nubel. One can easily expect for Nubel to play second-fiddle to Neuer for a couple of seasons and gradually establish his position in the post.
