Report: Borussia Dortmund’s Niklas Süle has to impress for new contract

Niklas Süle’s time at Borussia Dortmund has been a mixed bag from a ‘minutes on the pitch’ standpoint. Brought in on a free transfer a few seasons ago now, the expectation was that he would become one of the cornerstones of Dortmund’s defense for years to come alongside Nico Schlotterbeck.

Fast forward to the present date, and this expectation has never really lined up with reality. For most of his Dortmund career, Süle had been seen as second choice. Be it because of players in front of him in the pecking order, fitness or injuries, there’s always seemed to be some sort of stumbling block that hampered his ability to solidify his place in the starting 11.

According to Bild, Süle, who has a very healthy salary and contract, is expected to step up and play the role he’s bend expected to play from the jump if he is to get a new contract. His current deal is set to expire in 2026, meaning the club does have a small window during which they must decide whether they want to keep Süle at the club or sell this summer to avoid losing him on a free transfer.

Personally, I’ve always been a proponent of Süle and I do think there is a very talented defender in there, and that's not just because of that miraculous block on Mbappe’s shot in the Champions League last season, or his time with Bayern Munich. Even back during his Hoffenheim days, Süle showed just how good of a defender he can be, both from an athletic standpoint as well as his defensive acumen.

Because of this, there certainly still hope that we could see a revived Süle as the season goes on. His fitness levels were stellar going into the season, and Anton’s injury, while unfortunate, could give Süle the platform he needs to stake his claim to the starting spot; something I hope he gives his best for in the coming weeks and months.