Now Dortmund wants to slim down! But big salaries are not always easy to get rid of…
The BVB upheaval is more than half complete with five top transfers (Süle, Schlotterbeck, Adeyemi, Özcan, Braaf).
New manager Sebastian Kehl (42) was able to become an early shopper, also because with the departure of Erling Haaland (€21/75 million exit clause) fresh coal was quickly there. But nothing more is really happening on the outgoing side so far.
Hans-Joachim Watzke (62) basically says: “It’s a huge problem for the clubs that more and more players are moving on a free transfer and the money is going to them. But you can’t give all players five-year contracts. Because if they don’t perform, you sometimes can’t get rid of them.” Borussia feels that.
Dortmund in a sales jam!
► Manuel Akanji (26/contract until 2023/salary of around 5 million euros): The defense star has turned down two extension offers (over 8 million euros) and wants to leave in the summer. Dortmund gambles on a fee of up to 30 million euros. Concrete offers have not yet fluttered in at BVB.
► Emre Can (28/contract until 2024/salary of around 10 million euros): Dortmund’s all-purpose weapon claims to always play. However, BVB has upgraded its positions. If a good offer comes (15 to 20 million euros), Borussia would be willing to talk. But Can would probably have to do without money.
► Thorgan Hazard (29/contract until 2024/salary of around 5 million euros): Adeyemi and top talent Bynoe-Gittens make things more difficult for the Belgian. The price tag is 20 million euros, which no club wants to pay so far.
► Raphael Guerreiro (28/contract until 2023/salary of around 6 million euros): Defensively, the Portuguese is too vulnerable for big title ambitions. He is allowed to leave for 25 million euros. Dortmund would like to strengthen the defense on the outside with the coal.
► Nico Schulz (29/contract until 2024/salary of around 6 million euros): Dortmund’s biggest problem (€43.5 million burned in three years). Schulz would not get such a well-paid contract anywhere else.
32 million euros for salaries, some of which Dortmund would rather invest in a Haaland successor…
