FC Schalke 04 are being linked with a move for NK Varazdin left winger Iuri Tavares, with the Cape Verde–Portugal dual national potentially available as a free agent.
The 25-year-old’s contract situation at the Croatian SuperSport HNL side is unclear, with no expiry date listed, fuelling talk that Schalke could explore a cut‑price deal or wait to see if his contract expires and he becomes a free agent. Transfermarkt currently lists his market value at €1.20m, a figure that would represent a modest outlay for the 2. Bundesliga club if a fee is required.
Born in Lisbon on 8 March 2001, Tavares stands at 1.91m and operates primarily as an attacking left winger, cutting in from the flank onto his right foot. He wears the number 38 shirt for Varazdin and has been plying his trade in Croatia’s top flight, the SuperSport HNL, where his physical profile and versatility in the attacking third have drawn increasing attention.
The rumour, dated 22 May 2026, lists the probability of the move with a question mark, underlining that talks, if any, are at an early and speculative stage. There is no indication yet of a formal offer from Schalke or of Varazdin’s stance on a possible sale.
Recent performances in the Croatian league have kept Tavares on recruitment radars, but detailed statistics, including individual match contributions and latest scorelines, have not been publicly disclosed in conjunction with this rumour. What is clear is that his combination of height, pace and right-footed threat from the left marks him out as a different profile to many wide options currently in Germany’s second tier.
Should a transfer to Gelsenkirchen materialise, the move would offer Tavares a first opportunity in German football and a significant platform to enhance his reputation in European leagues, potentially turning a short‑term rumour into a defining step in his career.
