Lars Ricken has emphatically dismissed speculation linking Borussia Dortmund with a move for Newcastle United’s Nick Woltemade, insisting the club are “excellently positioned” up front and have no intention of letting Serhou Guirassy leave.
The rumours had been gathering pace. Bild reported that Dortmund were considering Woltemade as a potential replacement should Guirassy depart the Westfalenstadion this summer.
But when Sport Bild put the question to Dortmund’s sporting managing director, he did not exactly leave the door open.
“That’s the first I’ve heard of it,” Ricken said. “No truth to it.”
‘Excellently positioned’
Ricken went further, expressing full confidence in the club’s current attacking options.
With Guirassy and Fábio Silva leading the line, Dortmund believe they have more than enough firepower to compete at the top end of the Bundesliga next season.
There has been persistent chatter about Guirassy’s future. The striker is said to have a €35m release clause that applies to certain top clubs this summer.
But Ricken is not losing sleep.
“We hear every transfer window that he might leave and he’s still here,” he pointed out.
‘No intention to let him go’
The Dortmund chief made it clear that the club’s hierarchy including sporting director Ole Book and head coach Niko Kovac are united in their desire to keep the forward.
“It’s my wish and the wish of Ole and Niko Kovac that Serhou remains with us this summer,” Ricken said.
“He feels extremely comfortable at the club, and there is no intention to let him go.”
That is about as definitive as it gets.
What this means for Newcastle
Woltemade remains a player of interest to several clubs, but Dortmund are not among them, at least not according to the man who would actually make the decision.
Newcastle have not been actively looking to offload the striker, but speculation tends to take on a life of its own. This particular rumour, however, appears to have been shut down before it could really get going.
The bottom line
Guirassy is staying unless someone triggers that €35m clause and the player decides he wants to go.
But Dortmund are not planning for life without him. Woltemade is not coming. And Ricken has made his position crystal clear.
Sometimes the simplest answer is the right one. And in this case, “no truth to it” says it all.
