Arsenal have held preliminary talks in London about bringing Borussia Dortmund chief scout Sebastian Kehl to the Premier League, according to Sky Sports.
The Gunners are understood to be keen on recruiting the 43-year-old, who has earned a strong reputation in the transfer industry and is known at Dortmund as the club’s “diamond eye”.
Reports from Bild say Arsenal are interested in poaching Kehl, while Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also believed to be monitoring the situation closely.
Kehl has been involved in a number of important transfers during his time with Borussia Dortmund. His work has included deals involving Haaland, Bellingham, Gittens and Sancho, while he also played a significant role in the club’s recruitment of highly rated prospects such as Inacio, Albert and Duarte.
His current contract with Borussia Dortmund runs until 2028, meaning any attempt to take him to England would be expected to involve negotiations with the German club.
The interest from Arsenal comes as the Premier League champions look to strengthen their recruitment operation. Kehl’s work in identifying and helping to secure emerging talent has made him an influential figure within Dortmund’s system.
Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United are also said to have shown strong interest, giving the German club a potential three-way Premier League battle for the services of one of its key staff members.
The situation has echoes of a previous move involving one of Kehl’s predecessors. Sven Mislintat left Borussia Dortmund for Arsenal in 2017 and worked as the Gunners’ chief scout until 2019.
Despite the reported approaches, Borussia Dortmund have not yet been officially informed of interest from other clubs, according to Bild. As a result, the club’s management is currently understood to be relatively calm.
If Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur or Newcastle United want Dortmund’s leadership to seriously consider releasing Kehl, they are likely to need to make a financially substantial proposal. Dortmund’s sporting director Lars Ricken and technical director Ole Buck are expected to weigh any offer carefully, given Kehl’s importance to the club’s recruitment structure.
The German side are unlikely to let their “diamond eye” leave without significant compensation, particularly while his contract remains in place for another two years.
AF’s PC site is now live, offering full news, comments, match details and statistics on computers. Visit: www.allfootballapp.com
