Kicker is now confirming reports surfacing elsewhere today concerning a potential move to Dortmund for SV Elversberg personnel executive Nils-Ole Book. Sky Germany initially claimed that BVB might be interested in bringing in the experienced scout and sporting director earlier. This was following the shock news that Sebastian Kehl would be leaving Dortmund after 24 years working in the organization as a player and administrator.

Why did Dortmund and Kehl decide to part company?

This is the question many Bundesliga journalists have been attempting to piece together throughout the course of the day. Some basic reflection on the matter yields the answer that Dortmund to wish to begin piecing together next year’s front office team during the current international break. The fact that Kehl has been linked with other clubs actually makes the shock move seem like something perfectly timed for both sides.

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Dortmund must reorganize now. Kehl needs to wrap up the negotiations for his next appointment. Lars Ricken – who many assumed would emerge as the lone personnel manager once he and Kehl were given strikingly similar titles after the 2023/24 campaign – has (belatedly) won the administrative battle many expected him to eventually win. In some respects, it’s shocking that it took so long for Kehl to depart.

What sort of new club boss does Dortmund need?

Long-term Bundesliga reporters will be quick to argue that this club always has “too many bosses” and never seems to properly streamline its executive branch. That tired complaint is sure to crop up first. The fact remains that – even though Ricken and Carsten Cramer can presumably handle matters sufficiently enough themselves – another executive is realistically needed.

Cramer has had to take on some of Hans-Joachim Watzke’s administrative responsibilities.now that the 66-year-old has relinquished many of his operational responsibilities. Cramer remains a very experienced scout, but can’t really fill the needs of a true “squad planner”. That’s the position Dortmund will most likely be looking to fill; the one they gave Sven Mislintat a short shot at last year.

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How reliable are the Nils-Ole Book rumors?

The 40-year-old – thanks to his string of amazing developmental loan deals at Elversberg – has actually garnered a reputation very similar to Mislintat’s. Book arranged for Nick Woltemade, Fisnik Asllani, Paul Wanner, and plenty of others to join the Saarland outfit on loan. Nils-Ole Book (as Mislintat was once referred to as “diamond eye”) has earned the nickname “pearl diver” thanks to his work at SVE since 2017.

The fact that Book was recently promoted to what is considered the highest office in German football administration (“Board Member for Sport”) may not be of much relevance. After all, reaching a pinnacle position at Elversberg still leaves one…in Elversberg. Even if his club manages to earn Bundesliga promotion this season, Book can’t really be faulted for answering the call of Germany’s second biggest club.

What stands in the way of Book’s appointment?

Even if it may be a highly unsatisfactory and distasteful answer, it probably all comes down to the title. Dortmund need a “squad planner”. Book needs a better title than that. Kehl’s dismissal leaves the “sporting director” post vacant. Book should happily accede to the work of a “squad planner” whilst collecting a “sporting director’s” title and salary. This is probably the most important driving factor behind the dissolving of Kehl’s contract.

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Where will Kehl head next?

Of all the rumors floating out there, a move to Hamburg seems the most likely. A problem on that front concerns the fact that Hamburger SV sporting director Claus Costa has made an excellent case for a promotion following his work in the January transfer window. HSV would be foolish not to elevate him and Kehl would seemingly have no interest in serving under him.

With some reports suggesting that Eintracht Frankfurt Board Member for Sport Markus Krösche might be looking for a change of scenery, some of the Kehl-to-SGE rumors might have some heft behind them. Again, it’s difficult to see how Kehl fits into the SGE puzzle. It’s extremely rare to see Bundesliga clubs bring in external top executives, irrespective of how experienced they are.

GGFN | Peter Weis