Report: David Raum is Not Coming to BVB This Offseason

According to Sport1’s Die Dortmund Woche podcast, Hoffenheim’s 24-year-old left-back, David Raum, is no longer a realistic target for Kehl and his team. Raum’s maiden Bundesliga campaign last season saw him notch 3 goals and 11 assists across 32 matches as his team finished 9^th. Despite only being in the first division for a year, Raum has established himself as one of the premier left-backs in the league and cemented himself as a German National Team regular.

There are several reasons that the Borussia Dortmund hierarchy has deemed this move unwarranted. The first is Raum’s price tag. He has four years left on his Hoffenheim contract and the Sinsheim-based club is asking for a price believed to be north of 40 million dollars. This would require a record-breaking transfer fee from Borussia Dortmund to secure his service. The next is his release clause of 35 million dollars that activates next summer which would significantly reduce the price of the player and allow the club to see how he fairs in another Bundesliga season before purchasing. The final reason is the emergence of both Tom Rothe, who has started both of Dortmund’s preseason friendlies at left-back, and Prince Aning, who the club signed earlier this summer from Ajax’s youth team. We can expect both youngsters to act as backups to Guerreiro this season.

It remains to be seen whether Dortmund will make a move for another left-back this transfer window, but I think even if we don’t, we’re still in fairly good hands. As for further transfer rumors, we should continue to expect Nico Schulz and Manuel Akanji to leave the club although rumors surrounding Schulz are worrying.

Let us know if you think Kehl and crew are making a mistake in giving up on Raum! Is there another left-back you rather see the team go for? Do you also miss Sergio Gomez who is now making a name for himself as the best left-back in Belgium? I know I do.