Borussia Dortmund’s striker search: Stuttgart hoping for Kalajdzic stay; Ekitike set to join Newcastle

VfB Stuttgart are hoping to keep Borussia Dortmund target Sasa Kalajdzic at the club beyond the end of the season, while Hugo Ekitike appears set to join Newcastle United.

Borussia Dortmund are looking for a new striker to replace Erling Haaland, and Hans-Joachim Watzke recently revealed that they have two or three candidates in mind. The BVB CEO added that they are currently in the process of sounding out alternatives.

Sebastien Haller, Sasa Kalajdzic and Hugo Ekitike are the three strikers who have been heavily linked with moves to Borussia Dortmund in recent weeks. Haller is thought to be the top target, and the BVB bosses are also said to be considering Kalajdzic as a serious option. But it looks like they will not be signing Ekitike, with the Stade Reims striker set for a move to Newcastle United.

Reports claim that Newcastle have reached an agreement with Reims for the signature of Hugo Ekitike. They will reportedly pay a transfer fee of around 30 million euros plus bonuses for the highly rated striker.

Meanwhile, VfB Stuttgart sporting director Sven Mislintat has said that he hopes Sasa Kalajdzic will stay at the club. The Austrian international is wanted by a host of big clubs, including Borussia Dortmund, Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Paris St. Germain. But Mislintat is hoping that he will stay and extend his contract with Stuttgart.

"“We’re still hoping he will stay,” Mislintat told DPA. “Sasa once said that he won’t leave us on a free transfer due to the support he has received from us. That means if there’s no transfer in the summer, we have legitimate hope that he’ll extend with us.”"

Kalajdzic has one year left on his current contract with Stuttgart, and he would be available for a transfer fee of around 25 million euros this summer. The 24 year old recently said that he is in no rush to make a decision on his future.