Borussia Dortmund's search for a new number 10 appears to have moved from exploration to decision. After months of tracking Konstantinos Karetsas, the club have now internally settled on the KRC Genk teenager as their preferred candidate to succeed Julian Brandt, a choice that tells you just as much about Dortmund's planning as it does about the player himself.
The profile is clear. Karetsas is 18 years old, already has 10 senior caps, and is viewed by Dortmund as a possible fit for the role Brandt has long occupied. That alone makes the idea notable, but the reported price tag is what turns it into a serious transfer question. KRC Genk are said to be asking for around 35 million euros, a fee Dortmund previously felt was too high and one that briefly pushed them away from the pursuit.
Now, though, the interest has hardened into an internal preference. That matters because Dortmund are not simply shopping for another attacker. They are looking for one more offensive player who can help shape the next version of the side, and Karetsas is understood to be the wish candidate for that number 10 position. In that sense, this is less about replacing Brandt piece for piece and more about identifying the player Dortmund believe can carry the role forward.
The timing also adds another layer. The report links the situation to a possible departure for Adeyemi to Barcelona, which would only increase the need for Dortmund to make the right call in attack. If that move develops, the club would be balancing one potential exit with a significant investment in a player they have tracked for months.
What stands out most is how deliberate the process has become. Dortmund stepped back once because of the fee, but the renewed focus suggests they believe Karetsas is worth revisiting even at a major cost. For a club that usually tries to be sharp in the market, that is a meaningful signal: they see a player with enough upside, and enough fit, to justify a serious move.
Whether that eventually becomes a deal remains to be seen. But the direction is now much clearer. Borussia Dortmund have identified their preferred Brandt successor, and Konstantinos Karetsas is the name at the center of it.
