Borussia Dortmund plans to strengthen its squad. Nico Kovac hopes for 19-year-old Said El Mala, who is wanted by Cologne. The BVB has already spent five million euros for its Asian tour. However, it has also cost. At least the U19 team. They lost on the weekend in the first round of the U19-DFB-Pokal with 3:4 against Holstein Kiel - and is already out of the competition.

Also, because six players were taken to the pros for the Asian tour and the team obviously lacked them. "Frustrating", said U19 coach Felix Hirschnagl, "I wanted to stay in all competitions as long as possible."

"Collateral damage" is what he calls it. Taking it into account at the BVB, it's not possible. The first team has priority. The team is thinking almost all about it, how to reduce the distance to league leader Bayern Munich.

BVB Coach Nico Kovac: "We want to win"

The squad must be strengthened - they are in agreement at BVB. Julian Brandt and Niklas Süle were excluded, Karim Adeyemi was sold to Barcelona. New, according to the rumor, stronger players must be brought in.

Find also Coach Nico Kovac, who does not give much attention to externalities, as he said in conversation with Sportschau: "We are confident, again a good, strong squad to bring in the season. Also this year. We don't have to always show beautiful football. We want to win, that stands above all."

Karetsas and Gadou - Top People with Perspective?

For Brandt, the signing of 18-year-old Konstantinos Karetsas from Belgian club KRC Genk was successful. The filigree technician is said to have extreme talent - the 30 million euro transfer fee is rumored to have cost him.

Konstantinos Karetsas came from Genk to BVB

El Mala would be a dream for Dortmund

The focus remains on the Adeyemi position - the BVB wants to sign Said El Mala from Cologne. A transfer will be difficult - everyone knows that. Cologne will want to earn a lot of money when its young star leaves. 50 million euros are on the table. Dortmund has responded to the rumor with 30 million euros - it remains to be seen if they can come to an agreement.

Safely: El Mala himself or his family would like to move to Dortmund. Cologne had previously turned down more lucrative offers from England.

"Market laws have to be considered"

His new sports director Ole Book would have liked to have announced the takeover sooner: "We would have liked to have already signed an offensive player. But in the end, one has to consider the market laws."