BVB updates: Geertruida rumors appear overblown, Haller's return could still take months
North-Rhine Westphalia's "Ruhrnachrichten" published two articles yesterday on topics relevant to the German state's largest and most popular club.
| Photo: Borussia Dortmund |
In a separate article appearing on the newspaper's website, Klaverkamp claims that die Schwarzgelben plan to introduce forward Sebastien Haller back into training very slowly following the forward's second operation in his ongoing battle with testicular cancer. Various German media reports have noted that Haller will be traveling with the team to the upcoming winter training camp in Marbella, Spain. Klaverkamp confirms this, yet emphasizes that there are no plans to integrate the Frenchman into team training for a while.
The timeframe for Haller's return may even be pushed back until the final stages of the season. Klaverkamp notes that the BVB coaching and managerial staff are only beginning to contemplate very light individual exercises for the 28-year-old. There is little appetite for any sort of risk with the striker. It is said that, irrespective of what happens with Haller, Sebastian Kehl and the front office are not considering acquiring another striker during the coming window.
Youssoufa Moukoko and Anthony Modeste thus look to be head-coach Edin Terzic's lone options at the center-forward positions for the next two months. Haller's long layoff - he has still not yet made an appearance for his new club and last worked on a professional pitch with Ajax on May 15th, 2022 - necessitates a slow integration. With present plans in place, Haller might be back up to a competitive level in early April under the best of circumstances.
