Borussia Dortmund has stepped back from pursuing two promising young attacking prospects after determining their asking prices exceed what the Bundesliga club is willing to spend. According to Sky Deutschland, BVB have decided against matching the valuations set by KRC Genk and Racing Strasbourg for their respective targets, citing both financial and tactical concerns that will shape the club's recruitment strategy moving forward.
Belgian winger Konstantinos Karetsas, just 18 years old, remains one of Europe's most sought-after teenage talents. Genk's €35-40 million asking price has proven prohibitive for Dortmund, who view the fee as excessive given his age and developmental stage. The club's sporting leadership believes the investment carries too much risk at this juncture, particularly as they prioritize immediate competitive reinforcement in the Bundesliga title race.
Tactical Mismatch Complicates Strasbourg Deal
Meanwhile, Diego Moreira represents a different challenge altogether. The 21-year-old Strasbourg attacker operates primarily on the left and right flanks, a positional profile that conflicts with head coach Niko Kovac's preferred 3-4-3 formation. This tactical incompatibility, combined with transfer fee demands, has effectively ended negotiations. Dortmund have already bolstered their squad with Joane Gadou from RB Salzburg (€20 million), plus emerging talents Kaua Prates and Justin Lerma.
Sporting director Lars Ricken has outlined clear ambitions for the coming campaign: narrowing the 16-point gap that separated BVB from FC Bayern Munich last season—their fifth-best campaign historically. "We want to be a close-knit team with cohesion and unity," Ricken told Sport Bild. The focus remains on delivering both defensive excellence, which yielded the fewest Bundesliga goals conceded, and enhanced attacking creativity through more selective acquisitions.
Dortmund's recruitment philosophy now centres on sustainable spending and tactical fit rather than marquee signings. With Kovac contracted through 2027 and internal discussions about squad composition ongoing, the club projects stability heading into the new season as they chase their first league title since 2012.
