Bundesliga rival shows interest: will Kehl leave Dortmund? | OneFootball

A competitor from the Bundesliga shows interest in BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl, who apparently seeks a career move to the forefront.

At Borussia Dortmund, Sebastian Kehl is increasingly in the spotlight – not least because of his unclear prospects at the club. The 46-year-old has been the sporting director at BVB since 2022, but the situation with sports director Lars Ricken, in particular, complicates the next career step. Kehl is therefore said to desire taking on more responsibility and moving up to the executive level.

This is exactly where Hamburger SV's interest comes in: HSV's search for a new sports board member is in full swing – and the BVB boss is increasingly coming into focus as a prominent candidate. WAZ reporter Christian Woop recently summed up the situation in the Abendblatt podcast "HSV, we need to talk": "At first glance, it sounds far-fetched. On the other hand, Kehl wants to be in the forefront. And HSV is a big club where he would have significant influence as a board member and could shape a lot."

Structural factors could also favor a change. It is known in Dortmund that Kehl has higher ambitions. Moreover, his contract extension, as well as Lars Ricken's, are currently not a focus for the decision-makers. Therefore, a departure would not be a big surprise.

HSV courts BVB sporting director Sebastian Kehl

Although Kehl still has a contract until 2027, in the case of concrete talks, according to the Abendblatt, there is unlikely to be a lengthy negotiation – however, a transfer fee would be due. The personnel gains additional momentum from HSV's ongoing search, which is being accompanied by the headhunter agency Pedersen & Partners. Particularly interesting: there is said to be a good relationship between Kehl and headhunter Hendrik Mook, which further increases his chances.

Photo: IMAGO

Nevertheless, the decision is open. Besides Kehl, other candidates are also being considered, including current HSV sporting director Claus Costa and Hasan Salihamidzic. What is clear is that by May at the latest, the Hamburgers want clarity on the filling of the position.

Whether a change will actually occur remains to be seen. However, it is clear that an engagement in Hamburg, according to Christian Woop, "would fit well with his future plans" – and HSV thus suddenly becomes a serious option for one of BVB's most important officials.

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