Dortmund risk losing three key players next season | OneFootball

Dortmund's sporting director Lars Ricken is taking a little bit of a risk for next season: he is willing to start the 2025/26 campaign without discussing any contract extensions for three of Dortmund's key players - Julian Brandt, Niklas Süle and Emre Can.

All of their contracts end in June 2026 and Ricken is willing to even lose all three of them at the end of the season on free deals. Another contract which runs out at the end of next season, is the one of head coach Nico Kovač.

“We will start the season with this lineup and see how things develop. Then we will see how the future looks as the season progresses,” Ricken said in an interview with Kicker magazine.

Although these players have been the subject of criticism from time to time, and Brandt in particular was considered a candidate for sale after a disappointing season, Ricken said that “there is definitely appreciation for these players.” Together, the trio has a total market value of €40 million, according to Transfermarkt.

The sporting director seems to hold coach Kovač in even higher esteem; Kovač took over BVB in early February, when they were struggling in 11th place, and led them to the Champions League.

“We have a close relationship,” said Ricken. “He's honest, straightforward, and doesn't let himself be swayed. That's why it quickly became clear to me when we first met that he's not just a “firefighter”, but someone who needs to be given the opportunity to develop a team.”

Ricken's laidback approach is seemingly appreciated internally, when it comes to the club's staff. He is however, starting to receive a little bit of criticism when it comes to bringing in new players:

Only Jobe Bellingham and Patrick Drewes have been brought in so far - Yan Couto and Daniel Svensson were made permanent after their loan deals in the previous season. Many believe that this business so far is too little for Dortmund's goal of returning to Germany's top.