FC Schalke 04 are attempting to hijack Frosinone‘s agreed deal for Burnley striker Andréas Hountondji, according to journalist Lorenzo Lepore. The Bundesliga side have entered the race at the last minute as they continue their search for attacking reinforcements.
Frosinone believed they had secured the 24-year-old Benin international on loan for the upcoming campaign. Football Italia reports that the Serie A club have an agreement in place that includes an obligation to buy should they maintain their top-flight status this season. This structure would see Hountondji join initially on a temporary basis before completing a permanent switch if the Italian side avoid relegation.
Schalke’s late intervention has disrupted those plans. The German club are exploring a similar loan-to-buy arrangement, which sources suggest should be feasible for them to complete. Such a deal would offer Hountondji an alternative route to regular first-team football, though he has no future at Turf Moor and is expected to depart before the transfer window closes.
Hountondji spent the previous campaign on loan at FC St. Pauli, contributing four goals in 23 appearances across all competitions. The forward now finds himself the subject of interest from multiple clubs as he seeks to secure his immediate future away from Burnley.
The competition for his signature extends beyond Germany and Italy. AS Saint-Étienne have also registered concrete interest in the player, creating a three-way battle for the striker’s services.
With several clubs now actively pursuing the deal, Hountondji’s next move remains unresolved. Frosinone appeared to have established the clearest path to securing the transfer, but Schalke’s attempt to hijack the deal at the eleventh hour has introduced significant uncertainty. The forward’s representatives now face a decision between the guaranteed opportunity in Serie A and the alternative projects in Germany or France.
The coming days will prove decisive as clubs finalise their squads ahead of the new season. All parties involved are keen to resolve the situation swiftly, with the striker eager to secure clarity over where he will play next term.