Borussia Dortmund need to spend wisely after key exits

In a more disappointing turn of events for those with Borussia Dortmund tickets, Nicolas Fullkrug will see an exit from the club this summer window.

The 31-year-old scored 15 goals in 46 appearances in his debut season for the Bundesliga club. He finished as runner-up in the Champions League after moving from Werder Bremen in a £12.6m deal last summer.

Fullkrug also scored two goals despite not starting a game in hosts Germany’s run to the quarter-finals at Euro 2024.

Dortmund said on Saturday they have allowed Fullkrug to leave their training camp in Switzerland for talks with an unnamed club.

The Hammers are in the market for a striker and have also held negotiations for John Duran, Aston Villa’s Colombian forward.

New boss Julen Lopetegui has already signed Wolves captain Max Kilman for £40m, Sheffield United goalkeeper Wes Foderingham for £ 25.5 M, and Brazilian winger Luis Guilherme for £25.5 m from Palmeiras.

The Hammers also want to sign full-back Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Manchester United and Leeds United’s Dutch forward Crysencio Summerville.

Youssoufa Moukoko Leaves

Youssoufa Moukoko has decided to join Olympique Marseille and looks set to move to the French club on an initial loan deal with an option to buy.

After deciding to leave Borussia Dortmund due to a lack of playing time, Youssoufa Moukoko is set for a move to Olympique Marseille. According to multiple reports, the talented striker has agreed on personal terms with the Ligue 1 side. The two clubs are now discussing an initial loan deal with a possible option to make the signing permanent.

Moukoko had been reduced to a bit-part role at Borussia Dortmund, leaving the 19-year-old frustrated. His agent, Patrick Williams, revealed last week that Moukoko wants to leave the Black and Yellows this summer. Fans of Borussia Dortmund tickets also think that the youngster is often deprived of game time and that an exit will be best for his career prospects.

Several clubs were interested in signing Moukoko, but it appears that Marseille is set to win the race for his signature. It is currently unclear what the final parameters of the deal will be.

Moukoko made his Borussia Dortmund first-team debut just one day after turning 16. He has showcased his potential several times and has 18 goals and eight assists in 99 appearances across all competitions. His current contract with the club expires in two years.

With Youssoufa Moukoko and Niclas Füllkrug both leaving Borussia Dortmund, the club’s management will look to sign a new striker in the coming weeks. 

While the club made the Champions League final, and the fans with Borussia Dortmund tickets were allowed to see the club fight against Real Madrid, they understand that there’s more to be done for them to be a champion outfit. 

Sebastien Haller is also free to leave the club, and Serhou Guirassy could be joined by another new number nine before the transfer window closes.

Brighton Folds for Dortmund Deal 

Brighton are reluctantly poised to allow Pascal Gross to join Borussia Dortmund after agreeing a deal worth an initial £5.9m (€7m) for the Germany midfielder. Gross, one of Brighton’s longest-serving players, joined in 2017 when they were promoted to the Premier League. He has less than 12 months on his contract and was offered a new deal.

Despite Brighton appointing his compatriot Fabian Hürzeler to replace Roberto De Zerbi as manager, Gross is believed to have been keen to return to Germany. He received his first senior call-up last year and was part of the squad at Euro 2024.

Gross’s trip to Germany will be a homely affair, and fans of Borussia Dortmund tickets are excited to see the new addition of senior talent. 

The 33-year-old has also attracted interest from Eintracht Frankfurt over the past few weeks but is understood to be close to joining Dortmund, who Real Madrid beat in last season’s Champions League final. 

They are set to pay an initial €7m (£5.9m), with bonuses potentially taking the deal up to £8m. He has made 261 appearances for Brighton and was voted as the club’s player of the season in May.

“Pascal has been a fantastic servant to this club,” said Brighton’s chief executive, Paul Barber, on their pre-season tour of Japan last week. “From the day we opened our account in the Premier League until last season, he was still scoring goals, assisting goals, getting into the German national squad, and getting into the team for the Euros.

“Obviously, we’d love to keep him. We’re also mindful of his career stage and the opportunity Dortmund might provide for him.”

Brighton could also face a fight to keep Billy Gilmour, with Napoli manager Antonio Conte said to be keen on a move for the Scotland midfielder. 

An £8m bid was rejected last week, with Napoli poised to make a £10m offer for the 23-year-old.

Brighton spent more than £70m bringing in Mats Wieffer, Ibrahim Osman, and Yankuba Minteh. They have also been linked with a move for Ferdi Kadioglu. The Turkish left-back starred for his country at Euro 2024 and is expected to cost around £30m from Fenerbahce.

Yan Couto Joins Dortmund on Loan 

Borussia Dortmund have completed the signing of Yan Couto. The talented right-back will join from Manchester City on an initial loan deal.

Yan Couto is Borussia Dortmund’s fourth signing of the summer transfer window. He arrives on an initial one-year loan deal, which includes an obligation to make the signing permanent at the end of the season if certain parameters and criteria are met.

The Black and Yellows were keen to bolster their full-back ranks this summer. In Couto, they have signed one of the most highly-rated young right-backs in the world. The 22-year-old played a crucial role in Girona’s qualification for the UEFA Champions League on loan last season and is now determined to make a similar impact at Borussia Dortmund.

“This is a dream come true for me. Borussia Dortmund is a special club. Every child in Brazil knows about the stature of this club and is fascinated by the Yellow Wall. I can hardly wait to wear the BVB jersey for the first time and experience the energy and emotion in this great stadium,” Couto said.

In recent years, Couto has become the fourth young player to leave Manchester City and join Borussia Dortmund. He hopes to follow in the footsteps of Jadon Sancho and Jamie Bynoe-Gittens and make his mark in the BVB first-team.

Borussia Dortmund now has two right-backs in their ranks: Yan Couto and Julian Ryerson. While the latter’s strengths lie in his defending, the former has a very attack-minded style of play.