Borussia Dortmund are growing increasingly assured of retaining their leading striker Serhou Guirassy after several top European clubs declined to trigger his affordable release clause. The Guinea international, who ranked among the Bundesliga’s most prolific scorers last season, saw his buyout option lapse at midnight on Wednesday.

Major clubs pass up a golden opportunity

In a surprising turn given current market conditions, European powerhouses including Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, and Arsenal all had the opportunity to sign Guirassy for just under €40 million. Despite the relatively modest price tag for a proven striker, none of these clubs acted before the clause expired.

The situation has now changed dramatically for any club still interested in securing his signature. Any future move would require direct negotiations with Borussia Dortmund, as the fixed release clause is no longer valid. This puts the German side in a commanding position to determine the terms for any potential transfer of their prized forward.

Interest from Fenerbahce and Dortmund’s internal strategy

While Turkish club Fenerbahce have shown genuine interest, a transfer to the Turkish Super Lig appears very unlikely. Sky Sports journalist Patrick Berger stated: “Serhou Guirassy has ruled out a move to Turkey for now. At BVB, they have internally planned with Guirassy and without [Karim] Adeyemi, who were both considered possible departures. Therefore, I strongly believe Guirassy will stay at BVB for another season unless something unexpected happens.”

This position aligns with Borussia Dortmund’s objective of ensuring stability under new manager Niko Kovac. Guirassy has already held constructive talks with Kovac and sporting director Nils Book, who reportedly “made it clear that they want to keep him.” At present, the striker does not see any “exciting offers” that would tempt him to leave Signal Iduna Park.

Reduced pressure to sell

Guirassy joined Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2024 from VfB Stuttgart for €18 million and remains under contract until 2028. All indications suggest that he will continue wearing the iconic Black and Yellow jersey for at least another season. The club’s leadership is said to be content with this outcome, having previously prepared “contingency plans” in case a lucrative late bid arrived.

His decision to stay represents a major boost to Dortmund’s hopes of contending for the Bundesliga title. Having scored 22 goals for the team last season, Guirassy remains a vital part of Kovac’s tactical setup. With the release clause no longer in effect, the pressure to sell has completely dissipated, allowing full focus to return to footballing matters.

Potential transfer targets placed on hold

Guirassy’s expected stay also impacts Dortmund’s pursuit of other attacking options such as Nicolo Tresoldi and Fisnik Asllani. Tresoldi, who has been in impressive form for Club Brugge, is highly admired by sporting director Book but would require a significant financial investment. As long as Guirassy continues as the club’s first-choice striker, Dortmund are unlikely to move forward with a bid for Tresoldi.

Similarly, Asllani, who caught attention during his stint at Hoffenheim, may seek opportunities elsewhere if Guirassy remains in the squad. Reports suggest that RB Leipzig could be a potential destination for the young forward. For now, Borussia Dortmund’s attacking structure appears settled as preparations continue for the upcoming season.