Borussia Dortmund Receive Nico Schlotterbeck Transfer Boost Amid Interest From Real Madrid, Liverpool and Barcelona

Nico Schlotterbeck has been linked with a departure from Borussia Dortmund for several months now, with even reports at one stage of Real Madrid preparing a bid for the player, due to his impressive and dominant displays for Dortmund in both league and European competition.

However, the Yellow Wall are obviously keen on keeping hold of their star defender and has been braced for bids from clubs around Europe this summer. But now, they have received a significant boost in their attempts to keep the German international at the club for another season.

The German has been an ever-present figure within the Borussia Dortmund team since signing from Freiburg back in July 2022. He has become one of the senior members of the squad, often being given the captain's armband last season in the absence of both Emre Can and Julian Brandt.

The 6ft 3in powerful centre half was a massive aerial threat for Dortmund via set pieces last season for BVB, scoring five goals, which ranks in the top 94% of goals from players in his position in the Bundesliga.

Furthermore, his passing range from the centre of defence is another key attribute that was incredibly useful in getting Borussia Dortmund up the pitch quickly and effectively, hitting over 50% of his long balls accurately.

It is clear the level of influence that Nico Schlotterbeck has on Dortmund, and the difference in how the German giants perform with him in the team compared to when he is out of the team is noticeable, so it is no wonder that they wish to keep hold of him this summer, especially when the club have aspirations of pushing on and challenging for major honours this upcoming campaign. 

The main worry for Dortmund was a clause that was in Nico Schlotterbeck's contract. When Nico Schlotterbeck signed a new deal, following a period of standstill when it came to signing a new contract at the club, a key detail was the inclusion of a release clause in the contract should a big club come in for him.

Now, Dortmund weren't keen on this detail but accepted that if they wanted Nico Schlotterbeck to stay, they would have to allow the inclusion of a release clause, but the club placed an expiration date on it to avoid losing the defender at the end of the window with no time to replace him.

The expiration date was July 15th, meaning that this release clause in his deal is now inactive, providing Dortmund with a huge sigh of relief. This now means that should any team come in for Nico Schlotterbeck this summer, Dortmund can place any price they wish on the defender, and should multiple clubs come in for him, they could even start a bidding process for their star player.

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However, many would see the chances of any club, let alone multiple, coming in for Schlotterbeck as slim to none as things currently stand, and that is due to Schlotterbeck currently recovering from injury.

The 29-time capped German international sustained an MCL tear in his left ankle, which not only brought to an end his World Cup but looks set to delay his start to the new campaign, with Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Madrid target sent to be out until around the September international break. This means that Schlotterbeck would be unable to pass a medical, and any club signing him would be taking a huge risk, which elite clubs don't often like to do. 

With the expiration of Nico Schlotterbeck's release clause as well as his ongoing recovery from his MCL tear, I see it as highly unlikely in my opinion that he departs the club this summer as he will not be fit until after the window closes and Dortmund can ask for a high price for one of their key players, a price that clubs are unlikely to pay, especially when he is currently injured.

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