Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Gregor Kobel snubbed an approach from Newcastle United this summer, because he wants to win trophies.
BILD’s Ruhr-Ost edition report that the 28-year-old was uninterested in a move to St James Park, with his ambitions playing a clear role in the decision.
Several suitors
The newspaper explains that several clubs have set their sights on the Dortmund goalkeeper. Reports in Spain have indicated that Real Madrid see him as a potential replacement for Thibaut Courtois.
But they’re not the only ones. Several clubs have Gregor Kobel on their wish list. Newcastle were one of them. They came knocking in the summer, but the Swiss goalkeeper turned them down.
The Magpies were willing to offer him ‘significantly more money’ in England but Kobel wasn’t convinced.
He believes that he can win trophies at Dortmund and wanted to stay there. He will only consider a departure if he were to lose faith in Dortmund’s ability to compete at the very top.
Dortmund determined
Dortmund, for their part, are determined to keep the goalkeeper long-term. He has a contract until 2028 but that is something they will presumably look at soon.
The Bundesliga side would be unwise to allow him to enter next summer with just a year left on his deal.
That’s particularly worrisome given Real Madrid are keen. They’ve become experts at tempting top players away from clubs on free transfers in recent years and they’d presumably like to do so again here if they can.
Newcastle are unlikely to make a return anyway. They spent the summer looking for goalkeepers to replace Nick Pope and eventually settled on Lukas Hornicek. He’s made a solid start to life in the North East so there’s no worries there for now.
They also spent big to sign Ewen Jaouen as well. He’s very much seen as one for the future, so the goalkeeper position is locked down for the forseeable and Kobel is now, presumably, off the table.
