Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 7y

Dortmund's Thomas Tuchel not involved in signing of Alexander Isak

Borussia Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel has confirmed he was not involved in the signing of Alexander Isak, but played down reports of a power struggle regarding the club's recruitment of players.

Isak, 17, joined Dortmund from AIK Solna on Monday after the Bundesliga side reportedly beat Real Madrid to his signature.

But Sport Bild ran a cover story on Wednesday highlighting a power struggle at the Bundesliga club between coach Thomas Tuchel and CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke and sporting director Michael Zorc.

The report claimed that Tuchel did not know about the signing of Isak before rumours of the deal emerged from Sweden on Saturday.

Speaking to reporters at Dortmund's training facilities later on Wednesday, Tuchel said: "There are transfers in which you as a coach are involved in from a very stage. That's mostly transfers of players who can help immediately. You have to be involved from the very beginning.

"There are transfers like Alexander Isak now where the scouting staff and Michael Zorc do the groundwork. This means they know the player and he's on their radar because I did not know the player.

"It was like that with [summer signings] Ousmane Dembele and Emre Mor. They were scouted. My person only enters at a very late stage. That's just normal."

Tuchel explained the transfer gave "the club a long-term planning security" and went on to reiterate he "did not know the player" and when asked whether he vetoed the transfer, he added: "When he was suggested, this transfer makes 100 percent sense for BVB. To fill this position with a highly talented player: I did not veto the transfer."

Tuchel highlighted that Isak made a good impression in his first training match. "It's a joy he's here," he said.

When asked about an alleged "power struggle" at Dortmund, Tuchel said: "That's nothing new that it's reported from the outside, and I don't want to comment it every time. I've said we have a professional and friendly cooperation."

Isak is set to replace Adrian Ramos, with the Colombian on the verge of completing his transfer to the Chinese Super League via La Liga side Granada.

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