Brentford have opened talks to sign highly-rated Borussia Dortmund left-back Almugera Kabar in a deal worth a reported €20 million. The U17 World Cup winner is struggling for game time in Germany, and the Bees are pushing for a permanent January transfer for a player they believe is physically ideal for the Premier League.
Bees make €20m move for German youth international
Brentford have opened negotiations with Borussia Dortmund over a January move for highly-rated teenage left-back Kabar. According to German publication , the Premier League club have expressed "concrete interest" in the 19-year-old and are already in contact with the player's representatives. The Bees are reportedly prepared to pay a substantial fee of around €20m (£17m/$21m) to secure the defender in January.
AdvertisementGetty ImagesWho is Almugera Kabar? Dortmund's U17 World Cup winner
Kabar is a product of Dortmund's esteemed youth academy, having joined the club at the age of 13. A physically imposing full-back standing at 1.86m, he is seen by Brentford as possessing the ideal attributes for the Premier League. His stock rose significantly in 2023 when he was a key part of the Germany side that won both the U17 European Championship and the U17 World Cup. He is now a regular for the national U19 team, for whom he has already made 19 appearances.
Kabar's first-team struggles under Kovac
Despite his success at youth level and a contract that runs until 2028, Kabar has struggled to break into the first team at Signal Iduna Park. The defender made five Bundesliga appearances last season but has found opportunities limited under current head coach Niko Kovac, featuring just once. This season, he has been unable to dislodge Daniel Svensson from the starting left-back position, a situation that could make him open to a move in search of regular senior football.
Dortmund reluctant to sell but could be tempted
Dortmund's official stance is that they wish to keep their homegrown talent for the long term, having only been open to a loan move for Kabar during the summer transfer window. However, the report from Bild suggests that a permanent winter transfer "could certainly become a reality," with a €20m offer potentially being enough to tempt the Bundesliga giants into a sale, given the player's current squad status.