BVB boss lifts the lid on the club's transfer strategy
Borussia Dortmund boss Michael Zorc has lifted the lid on the club's current transfer plans.
After the decision to sell Christian Pulisic to Chelsea for €64 million, Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc doesn't want to hide that signing a replacement for the winger is among the club's main transfer objectives.
Pulisic has completed his move to Chelsea, but will stay at Dortmund on loan for the rest of the season. Therefore, Dortmund are adamant to sign a replacement in the summer.
"Christian Pulisic's departure obviously leaves a gap. It's about closing that in the summer. And we also intend to do a lot and continue working on the squad. It's always good to have something up your sleeve," Zorc told Ruhr Nachrichten.
Borussia Mönchengladbach's Thorgan Hazard currently looks like the best option with Bild even claiming that Dortmund are already negotiating with the 25-year-old. However, according to Zorc, it's way too early to even mention any names in this context.
"I've read a lot of names in the paper, and I'm currently wondering what has already been discussed. We are always associated with many names. But this is way too early and half-baked," he said.
Actually, Zorc says, Dortmund need to trim their squad a bit.
"The squad is a little too big. Because of the difficult past season, we've been trying to primarily make decisions that we thought could help immediately. We came to conclusions that we were way too easy to beat," Zorc explained.
It seems a new player will join Dortmund this month, though, as the BVB are currently rumored to be close to the signing of Boca Juniors defender Leonardo Balerdi.
Meanwhile, Zorc and his associates have also agreed to let a player leave in the form of Sebastian Rode who has joined Eintracht Frankfurt on loan. And the Dortmund boss doesn't want to rule out that more players could leave the club this month - but only in case the transfer makes sense for all parties.
"We don't have the absolute need to sell anyone. If it makes sense for everyone in concern, we'll do something. If not, everything will just stay as it is," Zorc said.
On Sunday, beIN Sports reported that Dortmund have agreed to let Ligue 1 side Bordeaux take Shinji Kagawa on loan. However, Zorc insists that's not the case:
"I don't know anything about that," he said yesterday.
The offensive midfielder has been linked with a move in January, but is understood to prefer a move to Spain.