What Is The Future Of The Dortmund Star?

With Borussia Dortmund up 1-0 against Chelsea in the 63rd minute, there was activity on the bench. Mats Hummels and Marco Reus were warming up, but head coach Edin Terzic ultimately brought on neither. A problematic situation, particularly when it comes to captain Reus, whose contract expires in the summer.

Terzic, who is with the same agent as Reus, was quick to downplay the fact that Reus did not come on in the last 30 minutes of what was a key fixture for Dortmund. “It’s brutal; I am sorry, of course,” Terzic said after the game. “But it’s not just about Marco. We also had other guys who were not brought on. He has to respect it. But not accept it. He can show tomorrow in training and the next games that he doesn’t accept it. But for now, he has to respect it like everybody else.”

After the match, Bild reported that Reus celebrated with the players in front of the Südtribüne—Dortmund’s legendary south stand—but quickly disappeared to the dressing room. Reus then also walked past journalists in the mixed zone without a comment in the direction of a private car.

The Reus situation comes at a critical time for Dortmund. When fit, Reus can, of course, still make a difference. But he no longer has the speed and fitness to come on in a tight game when Dortmund tries to hit opponents on the break, which is why Terzic opted to leave the captain on the bench against Chelsea.

That, however, does not necessarily mean that Reus’ time at Dortmund is going to come to an end next summer. Both sides want to renew the expiring contract but not at any price.

“We know about the standings of both players,” Terzic said on Friday when asked about Reus and Hummels. “We are aware that they are important. We still have many tasks ahead of us, and it is important that we can rely on every player, including Marco and Mats.”

Terzic would like to renew the contracts with both players, but as Transfermarkt reported on Friday, only if they accept a reduced salary. According to the report, Dortmund would like to reduce Reus’ €12 million ($12.8 million) salary and make it more dependent on performance bonuses.

In fact, some of that salary would then be used to put together a package that could entice Jude Bellingham, the captain against Chelsea, to stay at the club. Dortmund wants to put together a €15 million ($16 million) a season package to keep the English midfielder in Germany.

Whether Reus will accept a reduced salary and standing is another question entirely. As Stefan Bienkowski pointed out for Gegenpressing, Dortmund now has several players playing Reus’ position, and the club will also give an increased role to Bellingham should he opts to stay.

In other words, both sides have a bit of a conundrum. While they would like to continue their path together, it might not be in either party’s interest. Dortmund needs the salary and Reus’ minutes for other players. Reus, in the meantime, wants to continue playing at a high-level and perhaps win another title or two before he calls it a career.

Whether that will happen in Dortmund is now somewhat in doubt. There is certainly interest in the 33-year-old. Major League Soccer is one potential destination where Reus would only play for clubs based in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami. A couple of Bundesliga teams and clubs from Italy have also shown interest. Either way, Reus’ situation is up in the air, and for now, Terzic will have to navigate a situation with kid gloves not to jeopardize Dortmund’s strong season.

Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcast and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth