Borussia Dortmund are intensifying their pursuit of Konstantinos Karetsas, with sporting director Nils-Ole Book preparing a decisive negotiation trip to Belgium this week. The German club have identified the Racing Genk attacking midfielder as a primary target to bolster their offensive depth following the departures of Karim Adeyemi to Barcelona and Julian Brandt's imminent exit.
Book confirmed Dortmund's two-pronged attacking strategy during a pre-tour press briefing, emphasizing that timing and market conditions will dictate their approach. "We know what we want for two attacking positions," he stated, acknowledging that financial constraints require patience despite the urgency to strengthen. The club have already tabled an offer of €30 million plus €5 million performance bonuses, falling short of Genk's €35 million baseline demand, which could rise to €40 million with additional incentives.
Milan's Transfer Struggles Create Opening for Dortmund
AC Milan face a more complicated path to signing the Greek talent. After committing approximately €100 million to recent signings including Gonçalo Ramos and Mario Gila, the Rossoneri are now constrained by their need to generate outgoing transfers. The sale of Rafa Leão remains the priority, with both Galatasaray and Fenerbahce circling the Portuguese winger. This bottleneck effectively sidelines Milan from making concrete moves in the market until Leão's situation resolves, handing Dortmund a tactical advantage in the Karetsas race.
Karetsas, born in 2007, fits the left-footed attacking midfielder profile that fits perfectly within modern tactical frameworks—specifically the creative hub role behind a central striker. His contract at Genk runs through 2031, providing the club considerable leverage in negotiations. Dortmund's agreement with Karetsas on personal terms removes one negotiating hurdle, though Book must now bridge the €5 million valuation gap this week to close the deal before their Asian tour intensifies.
The Belgian side remain resolute: Genk will not discount their asking price or shift their position on what constitutes an acceptable fee. With Book skipping the Asia tour to focus exclusively on Belgian negotiations, expect resolution within days. Milan's financial gridlock and transfer uncertainty mean the window for Dortmund to secure Karetsas before other suitors emerge is narrowing rapidly.
