Dortmund's Transfer Dilemma: Key Players at Risk Amid Champions League Uncertainty

On February 12, German media outlet Bild's reporter Maximilian Wessing wrote a front-page column analyzing Borussia Dortmund's outgoing transfer issues.
According to sources from Sport Bild, if Dortmund fails to qualify for the Champions League this season, they will have to open a "supermarket" for player sales.

Karim Adeyemi
Adeyemi is the most proactive, as he has changed his management company, which is often a signal that a player wants to transfer.

This winter, Napoli approached him to discuss a potential transfer, but Dortmund did not receive any concrete offers, contrary to what Napoli's sporting director Giovanni di Lorenzo claimed. Nevertheless, Dortmund's asking price is beyond what Napoli can afford.

Napoli's initial offer included a €40 million transfer fee plus add-ons. Dortmund's internal asking price is €50 million plus bonuses, with a ceiling of €60 million considered achievable. However, he is expected to perform even more frequently during the remainder of the season.

Jamie Bynoe-Gittens
The England U21 international is one of Dortmund's hottest prospects. He has scored 7 goals in the league this season.

Bayern Munich has also set its sights on Bynoe-Gittens, as has Chelsea. Dortmund's management believes that offers for Bynoe-Gittens will arrive this summer, and the transfer fee must be between €80 million and €100 million; otherwise, Dortmund will not consider selling.

Gregor Kobel
The goalkeeper is considered highly ambitious, so he needs to see Dortmund's growth.

If BVB fails to qualify for the Champions League, leaving becomes a possibility. However, Dortmund is still negotiating with Kobel. Sporting director Sebastian Kehl recently informed him that the club is willing to work with him long-term, and the signing of Ramaj is not meant to replace him but to find a suitable backup.

But if Kobel doesn’t buy into this reasoning, there’s not much that can be done.

Dortmund's plan is to collaborate with Kobel for the long term, but if necessary, the asking price for his transfer will be around €50 million.

In the end, Dortmund has a clause in place. If they ultimately fail to secure Champions League qualification, salaries will quickly decrease by up to 15%. Overall, the club will save about €15 million in wage costs—a small consolation in a crisis.