Nmecha Makes His Choice as Dortmund Demand £103m Windfall

The transfer race for Borussia Dortmund's Felix Nmecha is hotting up, with the Germany midfielder having made clear where his sympathies lie as the Bundesliga heavyweights set their stall out at a hefty €120m (£103m).

Nmecha has been the standout performer for Julian Nagelsmann's side at the World Cup, starting all three group matches as Germany topped their section. With a Round of 32 clash against Paraguay looming, the midfielder's admirers will have further opportunities to run the rule over him before any summer business gets underway.

Manchester United, Newcastle, and Manchester City have all been tracking the 25-year-old, though the latter's hand appears somewhat tied following their £116m acquisition of Elliot Anderson from Nottingham Forest. Whether Pep Guardiola's outfit will splash out again in midfield remains to be seen.

United, meanwhile, are actively hunting for reinforcements in the engine room. West Ham's Mateus Fernandes tops their shopping list, though they face stiff competition from Tottenham, who are reportedly willing to outbid the Old Trafford side. The Red Devils have also sewn up a deal for Atalanta's Ederson, though Manuel Ugarte's World Cup injury may yet complicate their summer plans.

Newcastle's interest in Nmecha stems from the likelihood that Bruno Guimarães could depart St James' Park, with Arsenal having already tabled an initial €64m (£55m) offer—one the Magpies have rebuffed. Sandro Tonali, too, is attracting attention from elsewhere in the Premier League.

Here's the rub: Nmecha would reportedly prefer a switch to either United or City rather than Newcastle, making any move to the North East a last resort should the bigger clubs fail to move decisively. If Guimarães does leave, however, Newcastle could launch a serious bid.

Dortmund hold all the cards regardless. CEO Lars Ricken and sporting director Ole Book are sitting comfortably, having secured Nmecha on a long-term deal running through 2030 before the tournament kicked off. The club's internal valuation is unbudging: interested parties should not even bother picking up the phone for anything less than €120m, with the likelihood that a final fee could stretch significantly higher.