Karim Adeyemi (23, Borussia Dortmund), who Manchester United is monitoring, is seriously considering a transfer. Reports say his spouse's wishes are behind this.
The British Daily Mail reported on the 17th (Korean time) that Karim Adeyemi is preparing to leave Borussia Dortmund and that his wife Loredana has a major influence. Swiss-born rapper Loredana is known to prefer "a European metropolis" as her husband's next destination.
Adeyemi moved from RB Salzburg to Dortmund in 2022 and established himself in the Bundesliga. His contract runs until 2027, but several big European clubs have recently been closely watching the situation. Manchester United is among the clubs showing interest.
Adeyemi is a forward who alternates between the center and the flanks and creates off-the-ball penetrating goals with explosive top-level speed in Europe. Based on pace that ranks at the top of the Bundesliga and among the best in Europe, he excels in one-on-ones with fullbacks and disrupts defensive timing with his acceleration and deceleration. Despite his high speed, his center of gravity is stable, making his dribbling highly effective, and the quality of his left-footed cutbacks and shots is also solid. He is diligent in pressing and defensive participation, giving him a wide range of uses.
However, his effectiveness decreases when opponents sit deep because he relies heavily on pace. After moving to Dortmund, shortcomings in the speed of his decisions and choices have emerged, and his influence is lower in build-up play. Limited use of his right foot has made his attacking patterns monotonous, and his finishing has been inconsistent relative to chances. He underperformed when playing as a center forward, but his weaknesses were mitigated when used as a left winger behind a physical No. 9. Frequent hamstring injuries are also an element that needs management.
According to reports, Adeyemi's camp is requesting insertion of a buyout clause of about 70 million pounds (about 13.85 billion won) during contract renewal discussions. It is a move to keep the door open for future transfers. Considering Dortmund's usual contract practice of not having buyout clauses, it is an unusual request, but exceptions are being discussed.
Personal matters also had an influence. Adeyemi and Loredana met in 2023 and held a private wedding one year later. The German media outlet Bild reported that Loredana wants a European metropolis as their next residence. Analysts say this desire adds to Adeyemi's dilemma in making a choice.
Unsettling factors on and off the pitch have also overlapped. Adeyemi's scoring form has recently dipped, and his relationship with coach Nico Kovac is not smooth. He was publicly reprimanded for throwing a water bottle toward the bench during the substitution process in the October match against Cologne, and the coach's dissatisfaction over his finishing and decision-making was also noted in the recent match against Hamburg.
Manchester United is watching the situation. Adeyemi recently teamed up with super agent Jorge Mendes. Mendes, who brokered the moves of Reni Yoro and Manuel Ugarte to Manchester United, has strong ties with Old Trafford.
Adeyemi has totaled 128 appearances, 32 goals and 22 assists for Dortmund. Attention is focused on whether Manchester United, which has made significant investments to reinforce its attack, will make an additional move and where the keyword "European metropolis" will lead his future.
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