Borussia Dortmund head into the new season with a heavily reshaped squad and a managerial situation that remains unresolved, making this a pivotal moment for the club. The most pressing off-pitch development concerns Niko Kovac's future. According to Sport Bild, contract negotiations between Kovac and the club will only begin once sporting director Lars Ricken extends his own deal first, a reflection of the close working relationship between the two men. Both contracts run until the end of this season, though Ricken's renewal is widely considered a formality given the club's strong transfer activity.

That transfer business has been the dominant story of the summer. Dortmund have signed six players, with Giannis Konstantelias arriving from PAOK for around 30 million euros and Joey Veerman joining from PSV Eindhoven for 22 million euros to address a long-standing creative gap in midfield. Sixteen-year-old Roberto Scaglione from Genua is also close to signing, underscoring a deliberate shift toward investing in younger international talent. The arrivals have created real competition for places, which is pushing fringe players toward the exit. Fabio Silva and Carney Chukwuemeka are available if offers around 20 million euros materialise, while Marcel Sabitzer, entering the final year of his contract, is also linked with a move. A right-back remains the outstanding need after Yan Couto's departure, with Barcelona's Hector Fort the primary target.

On the pitch, Dortmund drew 2-2 with Roma in their final pre-season fixture, recovering from two goals down. The Super Cup against Bayern Munich at Signal Iduna Park on August 22 now offers the first chance to measure where Kovac's side genuinely stands.