German outfit Schalke 04 appear to have negotiated a fee with Plymouth Argyle that is less than Miron Muslic’s release clause, according to Sky Deutchland.
The 42-year-old only joined the Pilgrims in January, penning a three-and-a-half-year deal. Despite still suffering relegation, Muslic was widely praised for the job he did at Home Park, with a particular highlight coming in February when they knocked Premier League champions Liverpool out of the FA Cup.
The former Cercle Brugge boss had been though to remain at the helm following their drop into League One, but circumstances changed over the past 24 hours when news emerged that Schalke had set their sights on the Bosnian.
This prompted Plymouth to release a statement this morning, confirming Muslic had been granted permission to speak to another club:
“Argyle can confirm that we have reluctantly allowed Head Coach Miron Muslic to open talks with a 2. Bundesliga side after he expressed his desire to speak with the German team and not return to England.
“Despite regular communication since the end of the season, and no mention of any issues, Miron has now made it clear that, after extended periods away from his family, this opportunity provides him the chance to be closer to them after four years on the road.
“We are frustrated by this decision, having implemented clear structures, processes and personnel to aid Miron and his coaching staff as we look to return to the Sky Bet Championship at the earliest opportunity.”
Lower Fee Negotiated
With Muslic looking bound for Germany, details on the fee Plymouth will receive have been revealed. It is claimed that the head coach has a release clause of €1.2 million (£1 million), although the two clubs appear to have reached some middle ground.
According to the report, via Sport Witness, Schalke will pay ‘a high six-figure sum plus bonuses’. It is also speculated that at least part of these bonuses would include the club moving back into the Bundesliga, having been relegated from the top tier in 2023.
Writer’s View
Plymouth’s frustration is understandable, especially as they feel they had the right man to guide them back to the Championship at the first time of asking. The fee they will receive is also relatively low and it will be interesting to see who they line up as Muslic’s replacement. This could now be a long summer for the Pilgrims, as this is likely to impact their impact in the transfer market in the immediate future.
