Karetsas Dortmund pursuit intensifies as price stalls

Borussia Dortmund is intensifying its pursuit of 18‑year‑old midfielder Konstantinos Karetsas, with reporting that club officials will travel to KRC Genk this week to continue negotiations. Dortmund’s initial offer was deemed inadequate, and the German side now targets a fixed fee of €35 million, potentially rising to €40 million with bonuses.

The Dortmund delegation will meet Genk representatives in person, underscoring the seriousness of the bid. The earlier proposal from BVB fell short of Racing Genk’s expectations, prompting the German club to revisit its valuation.

The Limburg club aims for a €35 million base transfer sum, with the total package able to reach roughly €40 million once bonuses and ancillary clauses are added. Dortmund is attempting to lower the price, yet it has made clear that it will not abandon the pursuit of Karetsas.

Karetsas himself has expressed a desire to move to the Bundesliga and is said to have already reached a personal agreement with Dortmund, giving the German side a decisive edge in the negotiations.

Interest from AC Milan is also noted, though the Italian club’s pursuit is tied to the future of Rafael Leão and appears less concrete than Dortmund’s. Several English clubs are monitoring the situation, but a Premier League move is not currently Karetsas’s preference.

The 18‑year‑old has become a prominent figure in Belgian football, recording 92 appearances for KRC Genk with six goals and 23 assists. Since opting for the Greek national team in March 2025, he has earned ten caps and scored three goals, and Transfermarkt values him at €35 million.

Racing Genk holds Karetsas under contract until June 2029, strengthening its bargaining position. Consequently, the primary remaining obstacle is aligning the transfer sum between the two clubs.