Overview
- Bild reports that CEO Lars Ricken, sporting director Sebastian Kehl and coach Niko Kovac will not add a central midfielder this month despite Pascal Gross returning to Brighton on Friday.
- Bellingham has five Bundesliga starts in 27 appearances with one goal, and he is serving a two-match ban after a December red card against Freiburg.
- Goalkeeper Gregor Kobel accepted his distribution error contributed to the sending off, while Kovac publicly defended the midfielder.
- Media links suggest Manchester United are exploring a January loan, but analyst Andy Brassell argues he should remain at Dortmund in a Phil Foden-style development model.
- Club figures reportedly view him as a training standout, and earlier reports described an emotional intervention by his father that led Kehl to reiterate restrictions on dressing-room access.