Manchester United and Liverpool in reported bidding war for Nico Schlotterbeck as renewal stalls at Borussia Dortmund

Throughout the 2025–26 season, the future of Nico Schlotterbeck has been one of the most active topics. While the German appeared to be close to renewing his contract with Borussia Dortmund, the defender has stated that an agreement is not yet close. As a result, Manchester United and Liverpool are reportedly battling for his signing, playing a key role in delaying his renewal.

“I have to flatly deny it (that his renewal with Dortmund is close to taking place). Unfortunately, we haven’t reached that point yet… I negotiated with Sebastian for a long time. Sebastian is no longer here. Now Ole will be my contact person, along with Lars… I have already talked to him, but we have not reached the point where the renewal is imminent,” Schlotterbeck, said after Germany vs. Ghana game.

According to Christian Falk, via CaughtOffside, Nico Schlotterbeck has paused his contract renewal with Borussia Dortmund not only due to the change of sporting director. Manchester United and Liverpool have reportedly played a key role in this setback, as both clubs have shown strong interest in him. As a result, the German side believe the negotiations have stalled as the player looks a move to a Premier League side.

Liverpool may have the upper hand in securing Schlotterbeck’s signing

In case Nico Schlotterbeck decides not to renew and leave Borussia Dortmund, he could target a key condition in his next move: A winning project. Not just qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, but also being able to compete for multiple titles over the coming years. Because of this, Liverpool could have an advantage over Manchester United, as they have won the Premier League and the Champions League in recent years.

Coupled with this, Schlotterbeck could emerge as a natural replacement for Virgil van Dijk, whose contract expires in 2027 and who is expected to leave as a free agent. This would guarantee him a key role at Liverpool, which has been one of the most dominant teams in the Premier League in recent years. Furthermore, the Reds have proven to be a more consistent team than Manchester United.

Manchester United could lure Nico Schlotterbeck with ambitious project

Manchester United are no longer a dominant force in the Premier League. Following Sir Alex Ferguson’s golden era, they have failed to recapture their former glory, a fact that might give Nico Schlotterbeck pause. However, the arrival of Michael Carrick has transformed their fortunes, turning it into one of the most promising sides in England.

Nico Schlotterbeck could become a key pillar for the Red Devils in their new sporting project. With his arrival, they would gain much greater defensive consistency, as he would join Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martínez, and Leny Yoro. In addition, they could look to convince him by showing that their youth-driven project has immense potential, but securing a place in the UEFA Champions League could be key to achieving these ambitions.