Max Grüger to Fortuna
Quiet since 28 July 2026. Last report: Dirk große Schlarmann. Probability when it went quiet: 13%.
Max Grüger's future at Schalke 04 is being talked about again, with a loan to Fortuna floated as one option for the 21-year-old midfielder. The Bundesliga club retain him under contract until June 2028, and nothing suggests he is pushing for an exit himself. The idea appears to be one route among several being considered at boardroom level, rather than a deal edging towards signatures. The story so far rests on a single voice: Dirk große Schlarmann, whose post carries decent credibility at 79 out of 100. His words are careful rather than definitive, he calls Grüger "a candidate" for the move while noting Schalke's sporting director Düdo has another player in mind too. No second source has picked this up yet, so it remains a narrow line of reporting rather than something corroborated. That thin sourcing, combined with the sense that Schalke may prefer a different name for this particular slot, makes this a long shot for now. For it to happen, Fortuna would need to move past their other options and Schalke would need to decide Grüger, valued at around €1m, is the one they are willing to release on loan. Nothing here suggests urgency on either side. Fortuna have shown a pattern of taking on players valued near this level before, including a €1m arrival from Hellas Verona in 2023 and another at the same fee from Atalanta. A free transfer from Hannover 96 in 2020 fits the same profile of low-cost recruitment, so a loan for Grüger would sit comfortably within that trend if it ever gets going. Watch for whether große Schlarmann's line gets picked up elsewhere, and whether Schalke'
Who reported it
- Dirk große Schlarmann, 28 July 2026: #Schalke - Max #Grüger vor Leihe zur Fortuna? Er ist ein Kandidat, aber Düdo hat noch jmd anderes im Auge. #SSN