Borussia Dortmund returns to the Bundesliga action this Saturday with a visit to Augsburg in their race to hold on to consistency in the top flight. After failing to make the Top four in the League last season, the German club seeks to reclaim its competitive edge under the leadership of Nuri Sahin. Despite reaching the UEFA Champions League finals in the previous campaign, the Black and Yellow were only lucky to make the cut for the 2023/24 UCL campaign following qualification by the highest club coefficients which Germany won. After beating the St. Pauli Fridays clash, they have a clear chance to make their way into the top four, with just four points separating them and top-placed Bayern Munich.
Off the field, though, there are now about nine weeks until Dortmund can look to make some signings in the January market. The club is very much in need of stability and it is important the club has all the tools it needs to make a difference in a tight race for silverware. Adding someone new to Nurin Sahins’ ranks could bring more quality players to the team and improve player performance through competition.
The club’s management is working closely with the coaching staff to ensure contract renewals, extensions, departures, and possible purchases to keep the club running. Sporting director Richard Hughes has his eye set on bringing in a center-back and attacker to help mitigate the challenges crucial injuries have on the team. Here is our verdict on the transfer gossip that has emerged around the Black and Yellows today.
BVB wants Red Star Belgrade’s Andrija Maksimovic
Borussia Dortmund is in for a long transfer battle with Liverpool to sign Andrija Maksimovic from Red Star Belgrade. The 17-year-old midfielder is already becoming a huge icon in European football, drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi due to his impressive use of his stronger left foot.
Maksimovic has already tallied seven goal contributions in 11 matches across youth and senior levels for Red Star Belgrade this season. The Serb has featured for Red Star Belgrade twelve times this season, making his UEFA Champions League debut in their 4-0 defeat to Inter Milan. He has ten combined appearances in the Super Liga Srbije and Prva Liga Srbije where he has scored three goals and assisted twice. On the 13th of October, he became Serbia’s youngest-ever international debutant during a 2-0 victory over Switzerland in the UEFA Nations League. Red Star Belgrade reportedly values Maksimovic at around £12.4 million.
Liverpool are reportedly leading the race ahead of Borussia Dortmund to sign Andrija Maksimovic, but both teams still have Manchester City and Juventus to beat for his signature. Transfer expert Christian Falk suggests that Liverpool is more likely to strike a deal with the young star than Dortmund. Due to his versatility on the right flank, the English club views him as a potential alternative to Dominik Szoboszlai, or a long-term successor to Mohamed Salah. Arne Slot’s team is preparing for the likely exits of top players in the club following the expiration of contracts by the end of next summer. Manchester City may be a good option for the talented Serb under Pep Gladiola, but the English club are yet to prepare a bid. Should they come prepared, the young star who is a clear fan of the coach could make the switch.
If Maksimovic joins Borussia Dortmund, he would likely transition faster into a fully-pledged starter and integral team member. The German club is known for extensive youth development and Nurin Sahin is prepared to help the Serb become a formidable force in European football.
Nottingham Forest Joins race for £50m rated Borussia Dortmund star.
Nottingham Forest is the newest Premier League side to take an interest in Borussia Dortmund and England Under-21 talent Jamie Bynoe-Gittens. The 20-year-old ex-Manchester City youth player is linked to Chelsea and Liverpool. Nuno Espirito Santo’s side is fastening their approach to lure him to the City Ground with an offer allegedly worth almost £50m.
Nuno Espirito Santo’s side is slowly becoming a huge force in English football, making significant transfers that have seen them progress more in the new season. The club still needs reputable talents to challenge better and the board is fighting to realize this dream. This begins with making audacious transfers like the attempt to lure Jamie Bynoe-Gittens to the Portuguese coach team. Aston Villa and Newcastle United have proven in recent years that it is possible to break the dynamics of the Big Six teams in England, by competitively racing to title-winning and Champions League qualification.
The 20-year-old grew up in England and began his footballing journey with Manchester City and Chelsea academies. He joins a League of talented English footballers who have become iconic figures at Dortmund in recent years, including the likes of Jadon Sancho and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham. He has made seven Bundesliga appearances for Nurin Sahin’s team, registering two goals and two assists. In the Champions League, he scored twice in the opening game against Club Brugge in a 3-0 win. Internationally, he has featured in England’s youth ranks from under-15 to the under-21s, becoming an under-19 European Champion two summers ago.
Forest has recently expressed interest in the London-born attacker. It would be tricky for Nuno Espirito Santo’s side, with other big, lucrative teams seeking his signature. They may approach in the January transfer summer, but such a decision will only be considered if the forward decides to leave Nurin Sahin’s side. Crystal Palace, Arsenal, and Tottenham Hotspur are the other EPL teams that have specifically shown interest and are following his situation at BVB for a potential transfer.
Liverpool Interested In Schlotterbeck
Arne Slot’s Liverpool are making huge plans for the January and summer transfer window, taking strategic approaches to talents they can keep in the long run. The Reds are reportedly interested in Borussia Dortmund defender Nico Schlotterbeck as a potential replacement for Virgil van Dijk, whose contract has just 12 months remaining.
The Reds are still working on a contract extension for Van Dijk, but there is no certainty he will accept with options across Europe’s top teams and beyond flowing in the direction of the Dutch captain. CaughtOffside reported that Liverpool is prepared to offer around £42 million for Nico Schlotterbeck. He is also a target for fellow English team Newcastle, who has him as a second option if they fail to secure Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi.
Nico Schlotterbeck joined the Black and Yellow from SC Freiburg on May 2, 2022. He has played in 92 games, scoring six times and assisting twelve goals, an impressive feat for a center-back. This season alone, he has made nine appearances, helping BVB to a top spot in the UEFA Champions League standings.
Where to Get BVB Tickets
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The team is showing great resilience and determination under Nurin Sahin. The biggest question mark is being consistent, and the next few games will determine the trajectory of the team. Don’t miss your chance to support BVB Live at the games in the 2024/25 season and be part of their push for glory!
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