Despite his tendon injury, clubs are not deterred. Ouedraogo’s camp and Leipzig expect him to return within weeks, and his market value is expected to skyrocket next year.
Behind the scenes, multiple clubs have already made informal inquiries, while Die Roten Bullen remain firm that any summer negotiation would likely start far above the €50m mark. His long-term deal keeps the club in a strong bargaining position, especially as they continue positioning themselves as a selling club that extracts top value.
Ouedraogo’s rapid rise from Schalke’s academy to one of the Bundesliga’s most hyped players has only increased speculation around his long-term future, especially with the midfielder eyeing an outside chance of making Germany’s senior squad for upcoming international competitions.