BVB reportedly close to extend contracts with two well-known stars

The decision-makers at Borussia Dortmund can apparently tick off two personnel issues in a timely manner.

Borussia Dortmund is probably on the verge of extending the contracts of two stars. As reported by Sport Bild, the Black and Yellows want to continue working with Julian Brandt and Emre Can.

The working papers of the two BVB leading players expire next summer and, according to the report, are to be extended by two years each - the negotiations are already in the final phases, whereby the salary of the players (Brandt around eight million euros per year, Can about nine million) should not change massively. The conclusion of these negotiations would at least give Dortmund a little more planning security in a rather turbulent phase of the season.

Coach Niko Kovac's troops have only won one of their last four competitive games. Borussia were eliminated by Bayer 04 Leverkusen (0-1) in the DFB Cup and Brandt and Co. twice squandered a lead (2-2) against FK Bodö/Glimt in the Champions League, so BVB are currently not in the top 8 in the Champions League and would therefore have to go into the play-offs.

Schlotterbeck and Sammer put their finger in the BVB wound

Nico Schlotterbeck then criticised his teammates clearly. BVB advisor Matthias Sammer also recently agreed. "We have to stop blurring the truth in the end so that those who tell the truth are the stupid ones in the end," Sammer explained. "Schlotterbeck has "named the truth. And a leader can and must do that. It's his job." "In the perception of what he does, there are people who have wonderful character traits, but no leadership qualities. Of course, they are frightening at first," said the 58-year-old. Sammer left open who he meant by that.

The 1996 European champion believes that a more critical approach would bring BVB forward. "The club does not lack harmony. Borussia Dortmund is addicted to harmony. That is also what makes the club in the connection, in the love with people," said Sammer. If BVB wants to take "the next step", "constructive criticism" will "improve" the club.

Brandt and Can rarely convince over a longer period of time

After Dortmund's recent draw against SC Freiburg in the Bundesliga, there is also said to have been a cabin clash between Schlotterbeck and Serhou Guirassy. According to Bild, the Guinean therefore confronted Schlotterbeck in the dressing room and urged that he should address players directly next time "instead of expressing general criticism". At the same time, Guirassy advocated that the problems should be addressed "more clearly and directly" - "regardless of whether publicly or internally".

At least BVB now seems to be getting some peace in the matter with Brandt and Can. The contract extensions are to be announced in February at the latest. Brandt has been playing for the Black and Yellows since the summer of 2019, when the 29-year-old was signed by Bayer Leverkusen for a rumoured 25 million euros. Can (31) came from Juventus Turin in the summer of 2020 for a similar sum. Both are leading players at Borussia, but have also had to put up with criticism for inconsistent performances.