Real Salt Lake Rumored To Be Interested In German Striker Manuel Schaffler
Jul 27, 2020, 10:28 AM
Manuel Schaffler of SV Wehen Wiesbaden battles with Hauke Wahl of Holstein Kiel during the Second Bundesliga match between Holstein Kiel and SV Wehen Wiesbaden at Holstein-Stadion on June 13, 2020 in Kiel, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
(Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Real Salt Lake is rumored to be interested in signing SV Wehen Wiesbaden captain and top goalscorer Manuel Schaffler, according to a report by German news outlet Kicker.
Schaffler, 31, is under contract with Wiesbaden until June 2021. However, the report states that Wiesbaden “will not be able to keep its captain after relegation to the third division.”
Furthermore, Schaffler scored 19 goals in 32 appearances for Wiesbaden during the 2020 season. He has been with the club since 2016 where he has netted 79 goals from 140 appearances.
Report: Real Salt Lake interested in German striker Manuel Schaffler https://t.co/3KbmK1c7Eg
— Josh Clark (@SLTID_Josh) July 27, 2020
Schaffler has played his entire professional career in Germany to this point. Prior to Wiesbaden, he played for Holstein Kiel from 2014-16, scoring 20 goals in 96 matches. His professional career began in 2007 when he was signed by 1860 Munich, scoring 5 goals in 60 appearances.
Bundesliga club Hamburger SV is also alleged to be interested in Schaffler.
Real Salt Lake has had success recruiting German players in the past. In February of 2018, RSL signed Damir Kreilach from FC Union Berlin. Kreilach has since notched 24 goals and 14 assists in the 75 games played for the claret and cobalt and has asserted himself as one of the premier midfielders in the MLS.
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Tom Hackett is a Utah and Real Salt Lake Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the It’s Utah’s World Podcast (Utah Football themed) and The Lion’s Den Podcast (Real Salt Lake themed). Follow him on Twitter: @TomCantHackett.
