Niko Kovac: BVB Lacks Star Players with "Extra Skills"

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac has stated that his team is missing the truly special players that the club has had in the recent past.

"What we certainly don't have are these players, who perhaps one or the other would like to see here – with the extra skills," Kovac admitted during a talk session with legendary former Leverkusen manager Reiner Calmund.

Kovac was responding to widespread criticism surrounding BVB, suggesting the current squad lacks exceptional individual talents. "I think what we or the fans are missing is perhaps the Sancho, the Haaland, the Dembele, the Reus," the 54-year-old recalled, citing relevant examples from the club's recent history.

At the same time, Kovac emphasized that the Dortmund team can still perform well without such special players. "I believe we are doing a good job with the lads we have. They are great, and I am happy to work with them, but of course, we also want to improve again."

Will Jadon Sancho Return to BVB for a Second Stint?

Of the players mentioned by Kovac, Reus and Sancho were the last two to leave BVB. Club icon Reus, who played for Borussia in his youth, did not receive a new contract in 2024 and moved to Los Angeles Galaxy in the USA. Sancho had previously made the leap to international stardom in Dortmund from 2017 to 2021 and returned to Westphalia for a six-month loan spell in the second half of the 2023/24 season.

Recently, BVB fans' hopes of seeing Sancho in the team again have been growing. According to Ruhr Nachrichten, Dortmund's management is increasingly convinced that the English super-dribbler could be useful for Kovac's playing style. Sancho is currently on loan at Aston Villa until the end of the season, where he has recently shown improving form. With his contract at Manchester United expiring at the end of June and no future at the Red Devils, the 26-year-old would be available on a free transfer. BVB is reportedly willing to offer him a salary of up to seven million euros per year for a potential return.

BVB Needs Replacement for Julian Brandt in the Summer

Dortmund needs reinforcement in creative areas in the summer, as a difference-maker like Julian Brandt will leave the club on a free transfer upon the expiry of his contract. Meanwhile, Nico Schlotterbeck, one of the team's cornerstones, has signed a new contract until 2031. However, this contract reportedly includes a release clause that would allow the center-back to leave BVB after the World Cup for a handful of clubs for a fee of 60 million euros.

The current season is winding down for Kovac, whose contract runs until the summer of 2027, and his team. The league title is only theoretically possible given the twelve-point deficit to league leaders Bayern Munich, while qualification for the Champions League is all but secured with a twelve-point lead over fifth-placed Bayer Leverkusen. In the remaining five matchdays, which begin with an away game against TSG Hoffenheim on Saturday, BVB's focus will be on defending second place. Here too, the eight-point lead over third-placed VfB Stuttgart is more than comfortable.