Schalke goalkeeper Martin Fraisl has played down speculation linking him with a move to Rangers or Premier League outfit Norwich City, speaking to Spox.
Could a man who grew up ploughing the fields in his family’s tractor go from the old farm to the Old Firm?
According to The Mail, Rangers have identified 28-year-old Fraisl, Schalke’s potato-planting, carrot-growing shot-stopper, as a potential replacement for Ibrox legend Allan McGregor.
Norwich are interested too.
But though Fraisl is entering the final few months of his Schalke contract, the late-blooming shot-stopper is focused on one thing and one thing only.
Helping one of Europe’s great underachievers seal their return to the big time at the first time of asking.
Who will be Allan McGregor’s replacement at Rangers?
“I feel very, very comfortable at Schalke,” says Fraisl, who ousted long-serving Ralf Fahrmann at the Bundesliga.2 promotion-chasers.
“And I like the people in and around the club. I like the Schalke mentality a lot. I can well imagine a contract extension.
“In general, I have a clear career plan. I only ever speak publicly about my career steps as soon as I have achieved them. But when you play in the second division with Schalke, you can imagine what my next big goal is.”
Top-flight football, perhaps?
Sitting just two points adrift of first-place Darmstadt, Dimitrios Grammozis’ side are on the right track as they look to ensure that their spell in Germany’s second tier is little more than a flying visit.
But while Fraisl may be keen to stay at the Veltins Arena, that’s not a feeling shared by everyone of a Schalke persuasion.
According to German publication WAZ, Schalke are yet to begin contract talks with Fraisl. What’s more, they are not planning to either.
The former ADO Den Hag man is not the only out-of-contract ‘keeper on Rangers’ radar. St Johnstone’s Zander Clark and Dundee United’s Benjamin Siegrist are also targets.
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