The Bundesliga club are on course for relegation to the German second tier
Schalke 04 may consider selling their LEC slot to ease their mounting financial troubles, a report has claimed.
The German club currently sit bottom of the Bundesliga on just nine points and appear likely to drop out of the top flight in the weeks ahead. This, as reported by
L'Equipe, will exacerbate the club's already-precarious financial situation, which has been amplified by the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Schalke's esport division currently owns a position in the LEC (League of Legends European Championship), which they have held since 2016.
However, with rising interest in esports translating into increased viewing figures and an influx of sponsors into the league, Schalke's spot is now considerably more valuable than when they first joined - more than doubling in that time, according to L'Equipe's report, to a potential sale price of around €20m (approcimately £17.2m).
Reports claim the idea of Schalke selling their League of Legends team has been discussed internally, and is more than mere rumour. Not only would it bring in a lucrative fee, but dropping the team would save Schalke the costs involved in running a pro esports team, as well as the hefty €8m (£6.9m) LEC entry fees.
