Borussia Dortmund are intensifying their pursuit of Konstantinos Karetsas, the promising 2007-born attacking midfielder at Racing Genk, with sporting director Nils-Ole Book preparing a decisive meeting in Belgium this week. The German club has made reinforcing their attacking options a top priority following the departures of Karim Adeyemi to Barcelona and Julian Brandt, who is being pursued by Leeds United.
Book confirmed Dortmund's ambitions in an interview with Sky Deutschland, stating the club is determined to add attacking firepower across two positions. "We know what we want for two attacking positions," the sporting director said, emphasizing that timing and market conditions are critical factors. However, he remained characteristically coy about specific targets, noting that Dortmund pride themselves on controlling information and limiting premature speculation.
Negotiations Heat Up Over Valuation
The path to signing the Greek talent involves significant financial negotiations. Racing Genk are demanding a guaranteed €35 million, with potential bonuses pushing the fee to €40 million. Dortmund's latest proposal of €30 million plus €5 million in add-ons fell short, and the club must improve their offer to meet Genk's expectations. Despite the gap, Dortmund hold a crucial advantage: Karetsas has already agreed personal terms on a contract running until June 2031, which could accelerate a breakthrough.
Book will skip Dortmund's pre-season tour of Japan to fly to Belgium between Monday and Tuesday, signaling the seriousness of the club's intentions. This willingness to conduct face-to-face negotiations demonstrates how central the left-footed attacking midfielder is to their recruitment strategy.
AC Milan's Disadvantage Deepens
AC Milan, who have been admirers of Karetsas and see him as the ideal fit for Ruben Amorim's tactical system, find themselves in a weakened position. The Rossoneri recently invested approximately €100 million in signings like Gonçalo Ramos and Mario Gila, leaving limited funds for further acquisitions. More critically, Milan's ability to move in the transfer market hinges on resolving Rafa Leao's future, with the winger caught in a transfer battle between Turkish rivals Galatasaray and Fenerbahce.
Until Leao's situation clarifies and generates incoming revenue, AC Milan cannot credibly challenge for Karetsas. This creates a window for Dortmund to accelerate negotiations and potentially secure the Greek prospect before their Serie A rivals regain financial flexibility. For Karetsas and Genk, the coming days will prove decisive in shaping the midfielder's next career move.
