Queens Park Rangers target Stefan Schwab has confirmed that he is currently a free agent. But a new contract at Rapid Vienna is not off the table for a man who could take a leaf out of Paolo Maldini’s book, as reported by Kicker.
While the Austrian international will never join Ryan Giggs, Matt Le Tissier and co in being bestowed Athletic Bilbao’s ‘One Club Man’ award, Schwab understands that there would be a certain romanticism about creating a legacy in Vienna.
The 29-year-old has spent the last six seasons with Rapid but, with his contract expiring, he now faces a crossroads at a crucial juncture of his career.
The Mail reports that QPR, Bristol City and Blackburn Rovers could offer him a fresh start, with Schwab understood to be intrigued by the prospect of playing in England for the very first time.
Yet the opportunity to become a generation-defining figure at Rapid, a la Alessandro Del Piero at Juventus, Paolo Maldini at Milan or Javier Zannetti at Inter, could be too good to turn down.
“For me, it is just unusual. For the first time in my career I have no contract. It feels challenging,” Schwab says, before suggesting that he could reject the advances of QPR and co with contract negotiations now underway once again.
“There were no talks during the (global health crisis), but it was signalled that I wanted to continue (at Rapid Vienna). Now we’re talking again.
“Rapid is the biggest club in Austria with a great fanbase. Basically, I don’t want to jump into a new adventure.
“As a young guy I really liked the players who were with a club for a long time. I looked at Italy: del Piero, Maldini, Zanetti. That impresses me!”
Schwab, who produced nine goals and ten assists from central midfield in 2019/20, adds that he is hoping to make a decision about his future before the end of July.
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