Borussia Dortmund have signed Nico Schlotterbeck and coach Marco Rose is delighted to have fought off competition from Premier League giants Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United, speaking via BVB Buzz.
It’s fair to say left-footed centre-halves do not grow on trees.
And, even if they did, the branches would look even more bare than usual after Dortmund completed the £21 million signing of Freiburg’s peroxide powerhouse Nico Schlotterbeck.
According to The Athletic, the 6ft 3ins Germany international was a target for a Tottenham side who, under Antonio Conte, are making a left-sided centre-back one of their top priorities this summer.
Finding one will be easier said than done, however. Alessandro Bastoni and Josko Gvardiol have committed their futures to Inter Milan and RB Leipzig, while Sven Botman is on his way to AC Milan.
Nouveau-riche Newcastle made an approach of their own. But with Schlotterbeck on his way to Signal Iduna Park – tasked with providing some much-needed protection to one of European football’s most vulnerable ‘Achilles heels’, Dortmund’s error-strewn defending costing them a real shot at the Kings of Bavaria Bayern Munich – Eddie Howe and co may have to step up their pursuit of Diego Carlos or Goncalo Inacio instead.
Dortmund sign Nico Schlotterbeck from Freiburg
“He has had an excellent development in recent years and has become a national team player,” says Rose.
“He has an excellent left foot, recognises the spaces well and is very strong with the ball at his feet. On top of that, he seems very composed, has a very good positional game and is a strong tackler. All things we needed and were looking for.
“The talks were very good and pleasant. We got to know each other personally. He made it clear to us that he wants to achieve big things with BVB. We are looking forward to welcoming him next season.”
Schlotterbeck and Sule
According to Dortmund director Sebastian Kehl, Schlotterbeck turned down more lucrative offers from elsewhere before putting pen to paper on a long-term deal with Die Schwarzgelben. The 22-year-old colossus will join another newcomer Niklas Sule at the heart of Rose’s backline.
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A defensive partnership which, on paper at least, looks a major upgrade on Dortmund’s grade-flunking ‘class of 2021/22’.
BVB have already landed Schlotterbeck’s replacement in World Cup winner Matthias Ginter.
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