Borussia Dortmund’s CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke claims they beat Bayern Munich to sign French starlet Ousmane Dembele, but admits it will be harder to halt the Bavarians’ bid for a fifth straight German league title.
The new German league season starts on Friday with Bayern, under new head coach Carlo Ancelotti, hosting Werder Bremen at Munich’s Allianz Arena while Dortmund start their Bundesliga season on Saturday at home to Mainz.
Winger Dembele was voted France’s Young Player of the Year last season and Dortmund paid Stade Rennes €15 million ($16.9m) in the off-season, beating Bayern to the 19-year-old’s signature.
“At that moment, we were quicker (than Bayern), but I don’t know how deep their interest was,” Watzke told Sport1.
“We got to him early and discovered him before he had played in the (French) league.
“He is an exceptional talent, but there is more to it than that, he has to learn the language and assimilate.”
The France Under-21 international only made his French league debut for Rennes last season, but he announced himself with a superb goal for Dortmund in their 4-1 win over Manchester United during last month’s tour of China.
Bayern have won the German league title for each of the last four seasons since Dortmund took the 2011 and 2012 titles.
But having signed Dortmund captain Mats Hummels and Portugal midfielder Renato Sanches, the Bavarians are again clear favourites for the 2016/17 league crown with Ancelotti having replaced Pep Guardiola as manager.
* Agence France-Press
West Ham eye Bony
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed the club are trying to sign striker Wilfried Bony from Premier League rivals Manchester City.
West Ham have been seeking to bring in another forward all summer, a search that has been intensified by injuries to £20 million (Dh97.2 million) record signing Andre Ayew and Andy Carroll.
“We have a couple of players we are going to try to do a deal (for),” said Bilic, who has also been linked with a move for Juventus striker Simon Zaza by the British media.
“Bony is an option because he plays in the position we are looking for. I leave negotiations to the chairman and (recruitment head) Tony Henry.
“We were linked with him (Zaza) last year and he is a top player. We were in contact with him last year and will see what happens.”
Bony, 27, has been a bit-part player at City since signing from Swansea City in January 2015. He has also been linked with a move to the Chinese Super League by local media.
* Reuters
Benfica loan out Ola John to Wolves
Benfica have loaned out Dutch striker Ola John to English side Wolverhampton on a one year deal and have also loaned Brazilian Talisca to Besiktas, the Portuguese champions announced.
“Ola John has extended his contract for another season,” said Benfica, adding that the loan deal had gone through.
The 24-year-old has one international cap with the Netherlands had signed a five year deal with the Portuguese outfit when he joined from Twente.
Besiktas will have the opportunity to buy Talisca at the end of the loan period, Benfica added. The 22-year-old had joined them in 2014 from his childhood club Bahia.
* Agence France-Press
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