Borussia Dortmund appear close to completing the signing of PAOK Saloniki attacker Giannis Konstantelias after abandoning their prolonged pursuit of Köln star Said El Mala. Kicker reports that Dortmund have now turned decisively towards the 23-year-old Greek international as they continue searching for another offensive reinforcement. Greek outlet Gazzetta – as relayed by FT – goes significantly further, claiming Konstantelias departed Greece for Dortmund on Sunday morning following intensive negotiations between the clubs.
The overall transfer package could reportedly reach €30m including bonuses. Konstantelias is also said to have been offered a four-year contract worth approximately €3.2m annually. The rapidity with which Dortmund have moved in this case is impressive. Get German Football Newsreported only last week that Dortmund had revived their interest in Konstantelias. At that stage, Kicker stressed that the PAOK attacker fitted the profile BVB were seeking, but no contact between the clubs had yet taken place.
Konstantelias is most comfortable centrally but can operate across several attacking positions. His pace, close control and ability to beat opponents one-on-one all correspond with the qualities sporting director Nils-Ole Book has publicly identified as priorities following Karim Adeyemi’s departure for Barcelona.
Dortmund pivot rapidly after El Mala collapse
For much of the window, Konstantelias remained an alternative rather than Dortmund’s primary target. BVB spent weeks trying to pry Said El Mala away from Cologne. GGFNreported that Dortmund eventually raised their overall commitment beyond €55m, only for the fundamental disagreement over the guaranteed portion of the transfer fee to remain unresolved.
Cologne subsequently rejected a fourth Dortmund offer. BVB were prepared to construct a package comfortably exceeding €50m, but Köln insisted upon receiving at least €50m as a guaranteed base fee. Dortmund finally pulled out of the El Mala race after failing to bridge that gap. Köln head coach René Wagner subsequently expressed his delight that El Mala would remain.
That decision appears to have immediately reopened the Konstantelias avenue.
Dortmund hope to acquire second Greek attacker of the summer
A Konstantelias deal would give Dortmund their second major Greek attacking acquisition of the summer. BVB already completed the €32m signing of Konstantinos Karetsas from Genk earlier this month. The 18-year-old signed through 2031 after Dortmund eventually overcame similarly difficult negotiations with his former club. According to the latest Greek report, Karetsas has spoken positively about Dortmund to his international teammate Konstantelias.
The two players would nevertheless offer somewhat different profiles. Karetsas can begin from the right before drifting centrally and is particularly valued for his creativity in congested areas. Konstantelias is more naturally at home in central attacking positions while supplying the acceleration and dribbling Dortmund have been seeking.
Konstantelias already came remarkably close to a Bundesliga move
Bundesliga followers will remember that Konstantelias has travelled down this road before. Last summer, VfB Stuttgart came extraordinarily close to signing him from PAOK. GGFNcovered Stuttgart’s agreement with the Greek club on a deal worth €18m plus approximately €3m in bonuses. The transfer then spectacularly collapsed.
Konstantelias failed to report for his Stuttgart medical after considerable supporter opposition in Thessaloniki reportedly influenced PAOK’s position. Stuttgart ultimately walked away from the negotiations. Dortmund will therefore be wary of declaring the latest deal complete prematurely.
This time, however, the circumstances appear considerably more advanced than they were when BVB first revived their interest last week. Konstantelias is reportedly already travelling to Dortmund, the clubs are said to be at least very close to a final agreement, and the broad outlines of both the €30m package and the player’s four-year contract have emerged.
After weeks spent pursuing El Mala, Dortmund may now be on the verge of completing a very different solution to their attacking puzzle.