Arsenal chase Dortmund chief scout who helped land Haaland and Bellingham in three-way Premier League battle

Arsenal are locked in a three-way battle with Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur to sign Borussia Dortmund chief scout Sebastian Krug, according to a report from Sky Germany journalist Patrick Berger. Krug has built a formidable reputation in European talent identification during his time at Signal Iduna Park, where he is credited with playing a hands-on role in the signings of Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham.

Both players arrived at Dortmund as high-potential teenagers before developing into world-class talents. Haaland subsequently moved to Manchester City while Bellingham joined Real Madrid, with the two transfers generating enormous fees that underlined the value of Dortmund’s scouting model.

Krug has held the chief scout position at Dortmund since September 2022, having previously worked under Markus Pilawa, who left the club to take up a similar role at Bayern Munich four years ago.

Arsenal’s pursuit comes on the back of a transformative period for the club. The Gunners ended a 22-year Premier League title drought last season and reached the Champions League Final, re-establishing themselves as genuine contenders at both domestic and European level. Adding Krug would represent a significant investment in the recruitment infrastructure underpinning that rise.

Newcastle’s interest carries an added dimension following the appointment of German head coach Matthias Jaissle, whose familiarity with the Bundesliga landscape may give the club a natural connection to Krug. Tottenham, meanwhile, have been active in reshaping their own football operations in recent seasons.

No agreement has been reported, and it remains unclear whether Dortmund would seek compensation for a staff member still under contract. The competition between three established Premier League clubs for a single scouting appointment reflects the growing premium placed on elite talent identification across English football’s top flight.