Kevin Diks urges Nico Elvedi to remain at Borussia Mönchengladbach | OneFootball

Kevin Diks has publicly urged Borussia Mönchengladbach to retain defensive partner Nico Elvedi as uncertainty continues to surround the Bundesliga veteran’s future.

Elvedi has rejoined Gladbach’s preseason camp at Lake Tegernsee following his post-World Cup vacation. The 29-year-old’s contract expires in 2027, leaving sporting director Rouven Schröder facing a choice between negotiating another extension and selling the defender this summer.

Gladbach wish to avoid losing a long-serving first-team regular on a free transfer next year. Diks, however, has made his preferred outcome clear.

“I love Nico,” the Indonesian international said. “We work well together. Of course, I know it’s possible that he might still leave us, but I’d love to keep playing alongside him. We make each other stronger.”

Diks and Elvedi developed into an increasingly reliable central-defensive partnership last season. Both are also expected to occupy important leadership roles under Eugen Polanski.

The Gladbach head coach plans to move from a back three to a 4-2-3-1 formation, which would leave Diks and Elvedi as the likely first-choice centre-back pairing.

“We’ll effectively have an extra man when we have possession,” Diks said of the change. “It’s clear that we’ll have to play very differently than we did last season.”

Elvedi joined Gladbach from FC Zürich in 2015 and has now spent 11 years at Borussia-Park.

GGFN | Peter Weis