 At the end of the season, it was rumoured that Škrtel might return to English football and Stoke City, Swansea, as well as Newcastle United, who were returning to Premier League and were at the time coached by Rafael Benítez, who signed Škrtel from Zenit in 2008, were all mentioned as clubs hoping to sign Škrtel, although his manager Karol Csontó dismissed the transfer rumours saying that "Even if it was Chelsea, he (Škrtel) will certainly not return to England", adding that Škrtel was happy with his stay at Fenerbahçe.During autumn 2018 and spring of 2019, Škrtel was linked to transfers to Barcelona, that he allegedly turned down on the basis of his potential position in the squad, as well as a lucrative offer of Al-Ahli Jeddah.Instead it was stated that he may join his national team team mate Juraj Kucka, prior to Škrtel's international retirement in February 2019, in Parma.