Report: Stuttgart close to signing Gonzalo Castro from Dortmund

One of the most maligned players in Dortmund’s squad last season was Gonzalo Castro. His appearances in the Bundesliga were down significantly from 2016/17, but his performances didn’t improve.

Now it seems that Castro’s time at BVB may be over. According to Ronan Murphy of Goal, Stuttgart are close to signing the 31-year-old on a permanent transfer.

The reputability of Goal can be debated, but Ronan is one of their better journalists. And it seems unlikely that he would make up such a niche transfer. This is definitely believable, so don’t be surprised if some of the more traditional Dortmund sources follow-up on the story soon.

Stuttgart are coming off a successful first year back in the Bundesliga. Not only did they avoid relegation, but they found their way into the top half of the table and finished seventh. They missed out on a spot in the Europa League by two points.

The fee is paltry, but it’s probably fair for Castro. He just turned 31 and is coming off two very disappointing seasons. Dortmund only paid €11 million for him when they signed him from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015.

Maybe what Castro needs is a change of scenery, but it’s hard to see this transfer making Stuttgart that much better. Gonzalo has consistently been one of BVB’s most frustrating players over the last few seasons. Sometimes that has resulted in some harsh treatment from the fans, but there was a point when Castro was decent for the Black and Yellows.

It’s a transfer that would make sense for both parties. Castro gets a chance to rectify his career elsewhere in Germany, and Dortmund get a chance to bring someone into midfield who will actually be able to help the team.