“Three options”: BVB chief reveals Schlotterbeck talks | OneFootball

Borussia Dortmund are fighting for Nico Schlotterbeck’s future. BVB chief Lars Ricken has now made it clear which options are on the table – and which one the club is determined to avoid.

In the battle over Nico Schlotterbeck’s future, Borussia Dortmund still have a clear goal in mind – and at the same time one option the club is desperate to avoid. Sporting managing director Lars Ricken has now offered deeper insight in an interview with Sport Bild into the ongoing talks and made it clear how BVB assess the situation.

“There are three options: we extend his contract, we sell him in the summer – or we go into the final year of his deal. That last option is one we all want to avoid. It would be good neither for us nor for Nico,” Ricken explained. Internally, the clear focus is on extending the 26-year-old’s contract.

Despite the sensitive contract situation – Schlotterbeck’s current deal runs until 2027 – Dortmund are deliberately avoiding putting him under time pressure. “That may make sense in some cases, but not in this one. The talks are so respectful and confidential that we do not want to apply pressure artificially,” the 49-year-old stressed.

Schlotterbeck hesitates: BVB show understanding

The Germany international has had a contract ready to sign for quite some time, one that would tie him to the club long term. Nevertheless, Schlotterbeck has not yet made his decision. For Ricken, that is nothing unusual: “Given the contract situation and a player of his quality, that is not unusual.” One possible factor remains the recent personnel change at executive level.

Photo: IMAGO

After the split with Sebastian Kehl, the player’s side is said to be reviewing adjustments to contract details that had already been discussed. However, Ricken does not believe Kehl’s departure has had a major impact on the ongoing contract negotiations. “You have to make that kind of decision out of conviction, not tactical considerations. Sebastian and BVB were both in agreement on that. I was present for most of the talks as well. Besides, one thing is clear: a player never signs a contract with one individual person, but always with the club.”

What is clear is that Borussia Dortmund want planning certainty when it comes to Schlotterbeck – ideally through a contract extension. A departure in the summer is seen as a possible, though not preferred, alternative. Staying without a new agreement until the final year of his contract, however, is not up for discussion for BVB.

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