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Hi everyone!
Welcome to this week's edition of why-arent-there-any-nineteen-year-olds-left! Sorry about the impromptu break last week. Sometimes life gets in the way for transfer rumors.
Anyway, here are the fresh rumors for this week!
Transfers In
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Josip Ilicic
Current club: Fiorentina
Position: Winger
Rumored price: 15 million Euros
Likelihood: Firenze Repubblica reporting that Dortmund has made an offer to La Viola for the Slovenian, and it’s quite possible Ilicic could leave Italy this summer. Dortmund are looking like the top contender for Ilicic.
Do we need him: He’s a winger, a playmaker, and an aerial threat. Fiorentina are prepared to lose some key players this offseason and Dortmund are very serious about Ilicic.
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Marko Pjaca
Current club: Dinamo Zagreb
Position: Winger
Rumored price: 8 million Euros
Likelihood: Slim to none. Croatian and Italian media are reporting that Pjaca will likely be moving to Inter Milan for a fee 15 million euros.
Do we need him: Yes, but he would likely fall down the pecking order with names like Marco Reus, Ousmane Dembele, and more ahead of him.
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Andre Gomes
Current club: Valencia
Position: Midfielder
Rumored price: 40 million Euros
Likelihood: Probably not happening. Calciomercato is reporting that Juventus and Chelsea are competing for Gomes’ signature and would likely beat out Dortmund.
Do we need him: Not really, and especially not for that kind of money.
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Karim Bellarabi
Current club: Bayer Leverkusen
Position: Winger
Rumored price: 16 million Euros
Likelihood: The Guardian reports that it is not looking too good. Dortmund’s initial bid was rejected and Leverkusen insist he is not for sale.
Do we need him: With Mkhitaryan set to leave there is a huge opening for someone like Bellarabi. He’s fast, he’s skilled, and he’s a viable option.
Transfer Updates
André Schürrle
Sky Sports and Kicker both posted updates this week; the former saying it is very possible and the latter stating Dortmund is getting cold-feet. This morning, a Sky reporter tweeted that Schurrle could be switching to Dortmund after he returns from the Euros. But things are still a bit foggy and Transfermarkt is reporting a 33% likelihood.
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Mario Gotze
Kicker seems to think Gotze is the favorite to replace Mkhitaryan in Dortmund. Now before you head to the Torch & Pitchfork Emporium and say that you won’t ever welcome Gotze back, just hold for a moment. There’s no denial of his talent and Dortmund fans in Germany probably cheered when he scored the World Cup winning goal.
And remember when Kagawa and Sahin (twice) left Dortmund and were welcomed back. So do I...and Tuchel seems to like Gotze so it may just work out.
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Deciding between Dortmund and Manchester City, ESPN FC is reporting that the English club has agreed to a deal for the Ukrainian starlet. So much for bringing in another of Europe’s most talented youth players.
Oliver Torres
Another one bites the dust. Torres is reportedly close to signing with FC Porto. BVB was close to signing him in January but the deal fell through at the last minute. After months of interest, the chase for Torres has ended empty-handed.
Transfers Out
Mkhitaryan to United
All but official at this point. One positive is that Dortmund will get a hefty fee for the winger...but at the same time BVB loses its most valuable playmaker.
Subotic to Koln/Bremen
He’s already announced he will be leaving Dortmund this summer. Looks like a bidding war between Koln and Bremen is starting. Bild reported that Subotic might be too expensive for Bremen while Koln are looking to sign an
Leitner to Stade Rennes
There remains an ongoing debate as to whether Leitner should be loaned to Rennais or sold permanently. In order for him to be loaned Dortmund would have to extend his contract one extra year. It is still possible the little-used midfielder makes the move to France.
That's all for this week folks. Come back next week to see what’s new in the wild world of transfers. Until then, the comments are yours!