BVB is very keen on signing Frankfurt's key player | OneFootball

According to Sky Sports journalist Florian Plettenberg, Borussia Dortmund is very interested in Eintracht Frankfurt's center-back Robin Koch. The 28-year-old German international reportedly has a release clause between €18 million and €20 million this summer.

As reported by Plettenberg, there have been some contacts between the two parties, and Koch could make a move to Signal Iduna Park to add to BVB's defensive ranks, with further concrete talks planned. His future at Eintracht Frankfurt remains completely open as things currently stand.

However, this deal won't be a simple one for Sebastian Kehl to pull off, especially given the negative prospects of Dortmund not playing in the Champions League next season. At the same time, Frankfurt are still in third place in the Bundesliga and have better prospects of qualifying for the most prominent club competition on the planet.

Koch has been a solid foundation of Frankfurt's defense since joining from Leeds United in January last year. Despite his underlying progressive passing numbers, he has been a valuable weapon in the air, in defensive actions, and through clearances, according to FBref. He is also a significant offensive threat, with a 1.4 xG and npxG and two Bundesliga goals this season.

His contract runs until 2027, and with the alleged release clause, a BVB investment in Koch could be seen as more plausible than not, even without the prospect of Champions League football. He would be signed in a similar context to Anton, who also signed for Dortmund at 28 and with his first big campaign in the Bundesliga. Even though I believe BVB should focus on a different age group, Koch would be an interesting piece for Kovač, especially if he maintains the back-three system.