Schlotterbeck out for the season, injury could scupper Arsenal and Liverpool transfer | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund have confirmed that centre-back Nico Schlotterbeck will miss the remainder of the season due to a meniscus tear in his knee.

The 25-year-old was inexplicably absent from Dortmund’s weekend 4-1 win over his former club, SC Freiburg, and BVB have now revealed why.

This Schlotterbeck injury could not have come at a worse time for Dortmund, who face a crunch Champions League quarter-final clash with Barcelona on Wednesday and a high-stakes Bundesliga showdown with Bayern Munich next weekend.

Dortmund are locked in a battle for European qualification, and losing one of their defensive lynchpins could prove costly.

Manager Nico Kovac will now have to rely on Emre Can, Waldemar Anton, Niklas Sule and Ramy Bensebaini to fill the gap in the heart of the defence.

The injury may also have massive implications for Schlotterbeck’s international and transfer prospects.

Schlotterbeck will likely not participate in the 2025 Club World Cup. He is also a crucial loss for Germany as they bid to win the Nations League.

Before the injury, Schlotterbeck was attracting serious interest from several European heavyweights.

Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool and Arsenal were all reportedly monitoring his situation closely.

Liverpool are planning for life after Virgil van Dijk and earmarked Schlotterbeck as a potential successor to their captain.

Arsenal were bracing for possible Saudi Pro League interest in Gabriel Magalhaes and viewed the Dortmund man as a strong alternative.

Schlotterbeck is known for his aggressive style, physical presence and leadership qualities. He is regarded as one of Europe’s top centre-backs.

This injury could delay a big-money summer move and complicate plans for clubs looking to strengthen their backline.

Schlotterbeck will need to shut out any transfer noise and focus on returning in the best shape to help BVB next season as they bid to bounce back from a miserable campaign.