Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 6y

Borussia Dortmund to offer Marco Reus new deal in overhauled squad

Borussia Dortmund are hoping to build their team around Marco Reus and offer him a new contract, with his current deal set to expire in 2019.

Reus, 28, is set to return to competition after missing nearly nine months because of an ACL injury sustained in the DFB Pokal final in May. The injury prone Germany international is also hoping to play in the World Cup this summer, which would be his first major tournament since 2012.

However, with only just under 18 months left on his current deal, the Bundesliga club are hoping to tie the Dortmund-born Reus to a new contract.

"Our stance has not changed," sporting director Michael Zorc told Bild. "Our goal remains that Marco Reus stays here in the long-term."

Dortmund agreed a £56 million deal to send Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal and also let defender Marc Bartra leave for Real Betis in the final days of the transfer window last week. They also allowed 20-year-old Ousmane Dembele go to Barcelona on an initial €105 million fee in the summer.

Earlier this week, Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told FAZ that Dortmund are facing yet another summer of squad rebuilding.

Reus said in October he could be tempted to play for "four or five international clubs," and kicker reported in December that Reus is currently in no rush to prolong his contract with Dortmund.

According to Bild, Reus' focus is on making the Germany squad for the World Cup, and it is also believed the winger will want to see what moves Dortmund will make ahead of the 2018-19 season.

Coming out of a difficult 2017, Dortmund have drawn three games and won one since the Bundesliga resumed following the winter break. They currently are fourth, among several clubs chasing the three remaining Champions League spots, with Bayern Munich already 18 points clear of second-place Bayer Leverkusen and 19 clear of Dortmund.

"We need a squad adjustment in the summer," Watzke told FAZ. "Things will be clearer after the second half of the season. Michael Zorc has the lead on this. He knows my opinion and expectation."

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