Borussia Dortmund are intensifying their pursuit of Genk midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas, with the German club sending representatives to Belgium to discuss a potential deal, according to reports in Italy. Milan are also interested in the 18-year-old Greek international, but Dortmund’s ability to move quickly presents a significant challenge.
Dortmund’s sporting director Lars Ricken and scout Ole Book recently met with Genk officials to reiterate their interest in Karetsas, who is also considering the proposal from the Bundesliga side. While an agreement between the clubs has not yet been reached, Dortmund are taking the pursuit seriously. Genk are reportedly seeking a €35 million transfer fee, with an additional €5 million in potential bonuses, while Dortmund have offered around €30 million, with a complex bonus structure.
Milan’s pursuit of Karetsas is currently contingent on the sale of Rafael Leão. The club hopes to use the funds generated from a potential transfer of the Portuguese winger to finance a move for the young Greek midfielder. Fenerbahçe have expressed interest in Leão, offering a reported €8 million salary plus €4 million in bonuses, but the Turkish club currently exceeds the foreign player limit in their squad and must sell players before making a formal bid. Leão, who previously dismissed a move to Turkey, is now reportedly more open to the possibility.
RedBird Capital owner Gerry Cardinale recently arrived in Italy from Los Angeles and held meetings with Milan’s coaching staff, including manager Paulo Amorim, to discuss transfer strategy. Both Cardinale and Amorim view Karetsas as a valuable addition to the squad, but acknowledge the competition from Dortmund. The situation is fluid, and Milan will continue to pursue the player until the end of the transfer window, potentially relying on funds from a Leão sale to finalize a deal. Dortmund’s current financial flexibility gives them an advantage, as they are able to act decisively without needing to sell players first.
