Swansea City's hopes of luring play-off star Conor Gallagher back to the Liberty Stadium next season are set to be dashed by a glut of German clubs seeking to snap him up.
The 20-year-old Chelsea midfielder was watched by Bundesliga teams as he helped the Swans reach the Championship play-offs.
According to a report in the Sun mid-table duo Schalke and Mainz want to sign the England under-21 international for next season, with newly promoted Arminia also keen.
Crystal Palace are among the Premier League clubs eyeing Gallagher, with Chelsea boss Frank Lampard needing to make a big decision on the youngster's future in the coming days.
Lampard, licking his wounds after the FA Cup final loss to Arsenal, has brought in a youth revolution at Stamford Bridge, but he also signing a number of creative players for the 2020-21 campaign which would limit Gallagher's playing time.
He has to decide whether to keep Gallagher and throw him around the first team mix as the next stage of his development or, as seems more likely, decide where to loan him out again.
Gallagher impressed this season, first at Charlton, then at Swansea. He was one of the players who shone in the two games against Brentford, even though the Swans saw their Wembley hopes dashed.
Swansea boss Steve Cooper is keen to sign Gallagher on loan again for next season, as he faces the break-up of his play-off squad.
But while Gallagher has spoken highly of his time in Swansea, the opportunity of top flight football and a new challenge in Germany may sway things.
His England colleague Jadon Sancho has been a huge hit with Borussia Dortmund, while other British youngsters have also tried their hand in Germany where the top flight clubs afford greater game time to teenagers and players in their early twenties.
The idea of moving to Schalke in particular may interest Gallagher. The German club finished 12th in the table, but had been more accustomed to playing European football and will expect to charge back up the league when the new season kicks in.
Cooper looks like losing the bulk of his play-off team and needs to rebuild, with goal goal ace Rhian Brewster having returned to Liverpool and goalkeeper Freddie Woodman going back to Newcastle.
Swansea still hope to sign them again on loan next season, although Brewster, like Gallagher, will be attracting interest from bigger clubs after his goal exploits in South Wales.
A number of other players are out of contract, while Andre Ayew, the highest earner at the club, seems likely to be sold to help balance the books and to play at a higher level.
Welsh youngsters Joe Rodon and Connor Roberts are two others who will be attracting interest from Premier League clubs.
Roberts was one of the shining lights in the Brentford games, his ball playing ability, athleticism and ability to rampage forward on the overlap bound to attract the eye.
He has also shone under Ryan Giggs at the highest level with Wales.
