Felix Nmecha is on the radar at Manchester United and Liverpool, but Borussia Dortmund are in the stronger position for now. United have made contact as they assess midfield options ahead of the winter window, while Liverpool view Nmecha as an alternative to Alex Scott if that pursuit fails. Dortmund extended his contract until June 2030 earlier this year and say there is no active January release clause.

Dortmund's grip on the deal

The resistance from Dortmund is not hard to understand. They are second in the Bundesliga after six matches with 14 points, and they sit 18th in the Champions League standings, so there is little incentive to weaken the squad in mid-season. TeamTalk's reporting on the club's stance is direct: a sale is “highly unlikely”.

That lines up with the valuation reports around the deal. One report places Nmecha at €90 million to €100 million, while the €80 million clause is said to become available only in summer 2027. That is a long way from a clean January exit.

Why Premier League clubs keep looking at him

The interest is not random. Nmecha has made over 100 appearances for Dortmund and has scored 15 goals with eight assists in their colours. He joined from VfL Wolfsburg in July 2023 after more than a decade in Manchester City’s academy, which gives him the kind of development path Premier League clubs tend to trust.

His 2026 numbers also keep him on the shortlist. He has six Bundesliga appearances, two goals and a 7.08 rating in the league this year, plus a 6.89 Champions League rating. That is not the profile of a speculative punt, and it helps explain why both United and Liverpool are staying involved.

Liverpool's angle is also tied to Alex Scott, not just Nmecha himself. If that deal stalls, Nmecha becomes the fallback. United, meanwhile, are looking at midfield options ahead of January, and that contact has already happened.

A winter move still looks like a stretch, though. Dortmund's contract position, their league form and the release-clause timeline all point to a club that can wait, and the €80 million clause is not due until 2027.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 4 outlets. How we work →