Ironically, before the prestigious Revierderby at FC Schalke 04 on Saturday evening (from 6:30 p.m.), Borussia Dortmund had to put up with a severe setback. BVB lost 2-0 at Chelsea and were kicked out of the Champions League. In addition, the rumors about several top stars from Dortmund keep causing disruptive fire.
There has been wild speculation for months, especially about Jude Bellingham’s sporting future beyond the summer. For Lothar Matthäus, however, the daily water level reports from the young Englishman should not be a reason for BVB to lose their concentration before the big game at FC Schalke 04.
“BVB has been through this situation several times with Sancho, Haaland and so on. They will definitely be prepared. It is obvious that with the rise that Bellingham has achieved in the last two years, all top clubs are showing interest . […] If the player wants to leave, you won’t be able to hold him. Then at least the money has to be right for BVB,” Matthäus clarified to the “Ruhr Nachrichten”.
Bellingham is still under contract with the second-placed Bundesliga team until 2025, and in the event of a change it will probably generate a transfer fee well in excess of the 100 million euro mark.
Matthäus recommends BVB “contract talks at eye level”
The situation is different for the Dortmund leaders Marco Reus and Mats Hummels, who also face an unclear future with the black and yellow. Their working papers expire in the summer, they have not yet signed a contract for one or more years with the Westphalia.
“Hummels and Reus are not untouchable, even if they are captains. A Thomas Müller at Bayern Munich experienced it in a similar way. The only right reaction is to step on the gas, to show performance. […] In my opinion, Reus and Hummels accept their situation as it should. Both have already delivered strong games this season,” says TV expert Matthäus, who dubbed them both “deserving players” and continues to consider them “important contacts” for head coach Edin Terzic.
The record national player gave both the club and the players advice from his own experience for the forthcoming negotiations: “The contract negotiations have to be open, honest and on an equal footing.”