Borussia Dortmund News: Luca Reggiani’s Exit Edges Closer as Lars Ricken Demands a Response
Borussia Dortmund are facing two pressing questions: whether highly rated defender Luca Reggiani will leave during the winter transfer window, and how the team will respond after surrendering a two-goal lead against Werder Bremen. With a demanding run of fixtures ahead, the latest BVB news combines transfer uncertainty with a timely test of the squad’s character.
Reggiani’s lack of first-team minutes has intensified speculation about his future, while sporting managing director Lars Ricken has urged Dortmund to learn from their frustrating 2–2 draw. The coming weeks could therefore prove important both for the club’s defensive planning and its ambitions in the Bundesliga and Champions League.
Reggiani’s Dortmund prospects appear increasingly limited
According to Ruhr Nachrichten, Reggiani is increasingly on the fringes of the senior squad, making a winter departure look more plausible. The 18-year-old is regarded as a promising centre-back, but competition for places has left him with a steep climb toward regular first-team football.
Coach Niko Kovac is reportedly viewing Reggiani as sixth in the centre-back pecking order. Nico Schlotterbeck, Waldemar Anton, Joane Gadou, Ramy Bensebaini and Filippo Mane are currently ahead of him. Mane, in particular, strengthened his position with a strong pre-season, while Emre Can could also enter the competition again once he has recovered from his serious injury.
Reggiani’s recent matchday experience reflects that situation. He remained an unused substitute as Dortmund drew 2–2 with Werder Bremen, then played 45 minutes for the club’s U23 side in a 3–2 Regionalliga West victory over SG Wattenscheid 09. For a young player seeking a clear development pathway, the contrast between senior-team selection and reserve-team football may be significant.
Interest from Italy and England could open a transfer route
Reports linking Reggiani with a move have circulated for several weeks. AC Milan and Inter Milan were both associated with the defender during the summer, while English club Southampton was also reported to be interested. Reggiani is said to have chosen to remain at Dortmund at that time, but his view may have changed as his opportunities have remained limited.
A winter sale could reportedly bring BVB a fee in the single-digit millions. That would represent a notable return for an 18-year-old prospect, although Dortmund would need to weigh the financial benefit against the risk of losing a player who could develop into a first-team defender elsewhere. A loan move might offer a compromise if the club wants to preserve its long-term interest while ensuring he gets more competitive minutes.
Any decision will depend on Dortmund’s assessment of its defensive depth. The club has several senior options, but injuries and a congested schedule can quickly alter a coach’s priorities. Reggiani’s situation is therefore not only a question of potential; it is also about whether BVB can give him a realistic route into the first team in the months ahead.
Could a sale help Dortmund pursue Marcel Regula?
Reggiani’s possible departure has also been connected with Dortmund’s interest in Marcel Regula, a Polish attacking prospect. Club officials, including sporting director Ole Book, reportedly rated Regula highly during the summer, when Giannis Konstantelias suffered a serious knee injury. Dortmund ultimately strengthened their attacking options by bringing in Ethan Nwaneri on loan from Arsenal, but another approach for Regula could be considered in the next transfer window.
Zaglebie Lunin are said to value Regula at as much as eight million euros. A sale of Reggiani could help provide the funds for such a move, although transfer income does not automatically guarantee a signing. Dortmund would still need to decide whether Regula fits the squad’s tactical needs and whether the asking price represents good value.
For supporters following BVB transfer news, the link between the two players highlights a familiar balancing act: developing young talent while strengthening the squad in areas that need immediate support. Selling one prospect to invest in another could make sense, but only if Dortmund are confident about their defensive cover and Regula’s ability to contribute.
Ricken wants Dortmund to respond after Werder draw
Dortmund’s 2–2 draw with Werder Bremen has added urgency to the team’s next fixtures. BVB were leading 2–0 shortly before the end but failed to protect their advantage, turning what looked like a valuable win into a damaging loss of points.
Ricken told Bild that the team must take the right lessons from the result. He described the late collapse as the kind of setback that should not happen, while acknowledging that such disappointments can occur. The frustration was heightened by the fact that Bayern Munich also failed to win, giving Dortmund an opportunity to gain ground in the standings.
At the same time, Ricken rejected the idea of condemning the players or turning the performance into another broad debate about mentality. He said the squad had earned the club’s trust through its work this season and last. His message was firm but measured: the draw should be addressed, not allowed to define the team.
That distinction matters. A team can respond to a late setback by tightening its game management, improving communication under pressure and making more disciplined decisions in the closing stages. Those details often decide close football matches, particularly when opponents increase their attacking risk late in a game.
Champions League prediction: Bodø/Glimt offer a chance to reset
Dortmund’s next major test is a Champions League meeting with Bodø/Glimt in Norway. Ricken described the fixture as an opportunity to make an outstanding start in the competition, but the previous meeting provides a warning. BVB let a 2–1 lead slip at home last season and had to settle for a 2–2 draw.
Those dropped points hurt Dortmund’s push for direct qualification to the round of 16, according to Ricken. The club eventually entered the play-offs, where Atalanta Bergamo eliminated them after a 4–1 second-leg defeat, despite Dortmund winning the first match 2–0. The experience underlines how quickly a promising European campaign can become complicated when a team cannot manage momentum across two legs.
Any prediction for the Bodø/Glimt match should account for the Norwegian side’s ability to make life uncomfortable, particularly at home. Dortmund have the individual quality to control possession and create chances, but they will need to remain alert after taking the lead. A disciplined performance could help BVB put the Bremen disappointment behind them and build confidence for the rest of the group-stage campaign.
Borussia Dortmund’s upcoming fixtures
Wednesday, 14 October: Bodø/Glimt vs. Borussia Dortmund — Champions League, 21:00.
Saturday, 17 October: Union Berlin vs. Borussia Dortmund — Bundesliga, 15:30.
Tuesday, 20 October: Sabah FK vs. Borussia Dortmund — Champions League, 18:45.
The schedule leaves little time for Dortmund to dwell on the Bremen result. Between the European challenge, a Bundesliga trip to Union Berlin and another continental fixture, Kovac will need to manage fitness as well as form. Reggiani’s future may also become clearer as the winter window approaches. For now, BVB’s immediate priority is turning Ricken’s call for a response into a composed performance on the pitch.
