Borussia Dortmund's number one goalkeeper Gregor Kobel is on the wish list of Real Madrid. The Spanish record champions are keeping an option open for the 28-year-old Swiss international should Thibaut Courtois not extend his contract in the Spanish capital. This continues a series of suitors, after Newcastle United had already tried to lure Kobel to England in the summer.
Kobel feels at home at BVB
The goalkeeper himself blocked the offer from England, even though he could have earned significantly more money there. Kobel is convinced he can win trophies with Borussia Dortmund in the near future. "I feel very comfortable here and see a real perspective," said the Swiss. A transfer is not currently up for debate for him. BVB also plans long-term with their first-choice keeper, whose contract runs until 2028. The team's current strong form shows this confidence: with nine points from three games, Dortmund are second in the Bundesliga and have won all of their first five competitive matches of the season.
Further squad news: Karetsas and Sabitzer
Parallel to the rumours surrounding Kobel, there is news concerning two other BVB players. Konstantinos Karetsas, who suffered a circulatory collapse in the match against Villarreal and was taken to hospital, is on the road to recovery. Medical investigations showed no concerning findings. The Greek returned to his former club Genk on Sunday, where he performed a symbolic kick-off in the club's kit before the match against Gent and was celebrated by the fans. The plan is for Karetsas to rejoin team training this week. Meanwhile, Marcel Sabitzer has withdrawn from the Austrian national team for the upcoming international matches. The midfielder is taking a break to manage his energy levels. He cited the intense recent years and the busy schedule at Dortmund as reasons. A decision on a return for Euro qualification next year is to be made early in 2026. Sabitzer stressed he wants to manage his energy to play at the highest level for several more years; a definitive retirement is not ruled out.
Focus on the ongoing season
Borussia Dortmund's sporting management is meanwhile fully focused on the ongoing successful season. The next task awaits on Saturday in the away match at currently 14th-placed VfB Stuttgart. The complete overview of injury-related absences, which besides Karetsas also include Filippo Mané and Giannis Konstantelias, can be found on our injuries list. With Serhou Guirassy as the current top scorer (two goals) and a flawless run of five consecutive wins, BVB aims to continue its positive momentum in the Bundesliga.
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