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Axel Witsel’s agent Paul Stefani has talked about the process that led to the Belgian international joining Dortmund. It all started when Witsel told him “Maybe I want to leave China”, after that comment Stefani immediately started thinking about possible destinations and contacted Dortmund: “On my way home I started thinking. I remembered that I visited Dortmund a few months back and met someone from the club. I called him and he made the contact with Michael Zorc and Hans-Joachim Watzke. We talked and while Axel played the WC, I learned that Dortmund were looking for a player like him. I told them that Witsel’s Portuguese lawyer put a 20€ million release clause in his contract. That was music to their ears because they thought Tianjin would ask for 60€ million.”
He continued “Manchester United wanted him, Napoli too. But I told him ‘In Dortmund you’re the number one, in Manchester just one of many...in Napoli too’. Axel told me ‘Do me a favor and make it clear as soon as possible. I would like to go to Dortmund”.
However Zorc wanted to push the move ahead saying “He was pressed for time, because he could’ve loaned somebody else. ‘But I don’t want that, I want him, we need him’.”
- BVB chasing another youngster
According to Paris U Borussia Dortmund are just one club among many that are interested in PSG youngster Arthur Zagre. The 16-year-old left back is one of the most promising young talents from PSG and would be a great addition for BVB at a position where they will need to add talent in the coming years.
[Info Paris U] Manchester United, Monaco et d'autres français ont fait une offre à Arthur #Zagre. Tottenham et Dortmund sont également très intéressés. Le #PSG aimerait installer à moyen terme le jeune latéral gauche, considéré comme l'un des joueurs les plus prometteurs du club. pic.twitter.com/pcWzsaog7Y
— Paris United (@parisunited6) August 8, 2018
- Deadline day in England
It’s deadline day! Well at least for the Premier League clubs it is, expect one last day of frantic rumors before the market will be significantly quieter in the coming weeks. This could benefit Dortmund if they were in fact competing with Premier League clubs for a striker.
One of the bigger moves has already been concluded, Thibaut Courtois has joined Real Madrid and Chelsea will get Mateo Kovacic on loan in return, plus 35€ million. To replace Courtois, Chelsea will pay a world record fee of 80€ million for a goalkeeper to sign Kepa Arrizabalaga from Atheltic Bilbao.
Daily Buzz: What moves do you expect from Premier League clubs today?