Borussia Dortmund and Niko Kovač at an impasse: What's the issue?

Borussia Dortmund recently parted ways with head coach Nuri Sahin and is now actively searching for a replacement. Negotiations are ongoing with Niko Kovač, but disagreements have emerged between the two parties.

Details: According to insider Florian Plettenberg, Borussia's management held a secret meeting with Kovac in Austria. Dortmund is proposing a deal for Kovac to take charge of the team until the end of the current season. However, Kovac is seeking a longer-term contract, preferring a deal until 2026 or 2027. Dortmund is looking for a temporary solution, intending to unveil a more high-profile appointment in the summer.

If talks with Kovac fall through, there is a possibility that Mike Tullberg could manage the team until the end of the season.

Currently, Borussia Dortmund sits in 11th place in the Bundesliga standings with 26 points after 19 matches, trailing the European qualification spots by five points. In their most recent Bundesliga outing, they drew 2-2 with Werder Bremen, following a 2-1 defeat to Bologna last week.

Background: Kovač's most recent managerial role was at Wolfsburg, and prior to that, he coached Monaco, Bayern Munich, and Eintracht Frankfurt. Earlier reports confirmed that former Ajax and Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag will not take over at Borussia.