‘A real show of faith’: Dortmund chief lifts lid on Schlotterbeck talks | OneFootball

Nico Schlotterbeck faces an important decision about his future at Borussia Dortmund. Sporting CEO Lars Ricken is fighting for a contract extension and makes it clear that, despite the Champions League exit, BVB does not have to sell any players.

Although Borussia Dortmund must expect financial losses after their early exit from the Champions League, the club does not see itself forced to sell players as a result. Sporting CEO Lars Ricken made it clear in an interview with WAZ that the club’s financial situation remains stable.

According to estimates, dropping out of the Champions League could cost the club up to 22 million euros in revenue. Nevertheless, Ricken views the consequences primarily from a sporting perspective. “The damage to our sporting reputation is much greater than the financial loss,” the 49-year-old explained. While it is “totally annoying and painful that we messed up the result this year,” the club has managed its finances solidly in recent years.

At the same time, the club is working on the future of central defender Nico Schlotterbeck. The national player is on the radar of several top European clubs, which is why BVB has been working for weeks to secure a contract extension. Ricken emphasized that the talks are taking place in a calm atmosphere. “The nice thing is that very little is leaking out from either our side or his. That’s a sign of trustworthy negotiations.”

No Deadline in the Schlotterbeck Negotiations at BVB

Even though the public is waiting for a quick decision, the club sees no reason for additional pressure. According to Ricken, the talks are “still absolutely within the normal range.” Therefore, a public ultimatum for the defensive leader is not an issue.

Photo: IMAGO

To convince Schlotterbeck to stay, BVB’s offer apparently also includes special contract terms. This could include a release clause. Ricken explained that such provisions are generally not standard, but can make sense in certain situations: “There are situations where, in order to get a deal done, you might have to agree to such contractual arrangements.”

The club is thus making it clear how important Schlotterbeck is for their sporting future. Whether the 26-year-old will accept the offer or seek a new challenge in the summer remains open for now.

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