With a strong league end sprint (a draw, seven victories), Borussia Dortmund has qualified for the Champions League on the last handle and thus averted a sporty and economically violent damper. But that’s not all: Coach Niko Kovac, who took over the office in February from Nuri Sahin, “one of the biggest coaching performance of BVB” (sports director Lars Ricken at “Sky”) ensured that there is something like euphoria again at BVB. With a view to the new season, some personnel questions arise.
Expensive returnees after flop bonds put a strain on the BVB budget
With Sumaila Coulibaly (awarded to Stade Brest), Sébastien Haller (awarded to FC Utrecht) and Youssoufa Moukoko (awarded to OGC Nizza), three players currently lent will be returned to the BVB circle who are partly likely to prepare some headaches in Dortmund.
The problem: Above all, the offensive duo Haller/Moukoko was not even able to convince in the borrowing. The market value of the two attackers has fallen into the bottom, but continues to be princely the salary negotiated at BVB.
According to “Sky”, you would only like to separate from the contaminated sites in the Ruhrpott. However, a buyer should find it very difficult to generate a transfer even more difficult.
After all, Moukoko and Haller are before their last year of contract, and when a change, both would have to make a full smear on the salary. It is therefore most likely that the BVB (largely) waives a transfer fee and that possible interested parties enables more scope in the design of the contract or even pays a severance payment. The fact that Haller and Moukoko sit out their contract is of course another option that could definitely ensure that it ignites in the squad.
BVB’s up and down season raises questions
There are also severe decisions when it comes to existing staff. In spring, a mega break still seemed inevitable.
With captain Emre Can, Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle, Felix Nmecha and summer newcomer Pascal Groß, numerous professionals actually planned as a top performer were considered to be a string candidate.
However, the U -turn of the past few months also has to do with the fact that the named suddenly demolished their performance – a whereabouts are now anything but excluded.
A fact that focuses on the next problem. The contracts of Süle, Brandt, Can and Groß end in the summer of 2026. If you decide against a separation, an extension would actually have to be made.
Whereabouts not secured by BVB service providers
However, it seems clear that BVB has to sell at least one top star to be able to act on the transfer market.
The focus was on long youngsters Jamie Gitten, who ballerted off with a great first round of the notes of the European football elite. However, while the majority of the squad in the second half of the season increased noticeably, the Briton collapsed completely. Once dumped transfer claims of 70, 80 or even 100 million euros are now utopian.
With keeper Gregor Kobel and striker Serhou Guirassy, two players remain, whose farewell would probably be much more difficult to catch. Kobel recently avoided BVB in conversation with the “Bild”, the black and yellow pain threshold should be 60 to 70 million euros.
In the case of Guirassy, according to “Sky” and “Sport Bild”, there should be an exit clause that enables some football giants to sign the Guineer for a potted 60 to 75 million euros.
If Kobel separated, a heir to the throne would be ready with the currently awarded Diant Ramaj, but the youngster has not yet proven itself at the highest level. Guirassys 34 goals in 45 games (9 assists) would probably only be compensated for with enormous investments.
The BVB leadership is responsible for
The prerequisites are therefore not easy, but the pressure on those responsible is still high. In the second year after the withdrawal of club icon Hans-Joachim Watzke from the sporting responsibility, his successor Lars Ricken and sports director Sebastian Kehl must deliver.
With the appointment of the ex-BVB player Nuri Sahin, which is still inexperienced as a trainer, to the coach and the expensive transfer of defense flop Yan Couto, in 2024 you reached violently. The fact that Waldemar Anton, Maximilian Beier and Pascal had more new additions to the day did not exactly polish the balance sheet.
Difficult search for the next million-Youngster
Last but not least, a less acute question over the BVB squad, which should and should be answered again with a view: Who will be the next top talent?
For years, the Borussians with clever talent deals and thanks to their own young teams have raised the value of the squad, sold the silverware extremely expensive and thus generated the necessary change in new deals. If you look away from Gittens, a new talent of the millionth is currently not in sight.
In the summer of 2024, Ricken emphasized against the “Bild”: “It is important for us to emphasize: The next generation is ready with us! In summer we deliberately made courageous decisions to firmly incorporate our own young players into the professional squad.”
However, acts rarely followed in the past season. Almugera Kabar, Kjell Wätjen, Julien Duranville or Cole Campbell got their chance, but they could hardly use them.