Are Dortmund eyeing a Brazilian wonderkid? Ricken drops a hint | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund's managing director Lars Ricken has sparked new speculations with a brief statement. A Brazilian defensive talent is increasingly coming into focus at BVB.

At Borussia Dortmund, plans for the upcoming transfer windows are underway – and one name continues to stir conversation: Kaua Prates. The 17-year-old left-back from Cruzeiro has been linked with BVB for months. Now, managing director of sports Lars Ricken has commented on the speculations again – and at least cautiously showed interest.

On the sidelines of the Champions League away game at Tottenham Hotspur (0:2), Ricken emphasized that they are closely observing the Brazilian junior national player. “We know the player. We know him quite well, he is an interesting player,” said the 49-year-old, without mentioning specific details. At the same time, he made it clear that BVB is deliberately holding back and does not want to comment on every rumor. Additionally, Ricken pointed out: “In principle, we are well-positioned in that position for now.”

Behind the scenes, however, there seems to be movement. It is reported that a basic agreement has already been reached with Kaua Prates himself, but there are apparently still issues with the terms with his club Cruzeiro.

Duranville on the Brink: BVB Plans Loan to Switzerland

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Several offers from Dortmund have so far not met the expectations of the Brazilians. Additionally, there is a threat of competition from Italy: Como 1907 is reportedly interested in Prates’ positional colleague Kaiki, which could further complicate Cruzeiro's negotiating position.

Besides the potential summer transfer of the Brazilian, a departure is also in focus at BVB. Julien Duranville is on the verge of a loan move to FC Basel. Ricken confirmed the corresponding talks and explained with regard to the 19-year-old Belgian: “He is now at an age where he needs to play. He is no longer 16 or 17.” A purchase option is not planned in the loan deal, as Duranville still has a long-term contract in Dortmund until 2028.

While the future of the offensive talent is thus temporarily settled, the situation with Kaua Prates remains open. Whether BVB will actually make a move for the Brazilian defensive jewel in the summer is uncertain – however, Lars Ricken's statements have reignited the speculations.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.