Edin Terzic did not discuss the future with Jude Bellingham and focused on improving the midfielder – along with Borussia Dortmund’s latest “next big thing” in Jamie Byno-Gittens.
Bellingham will be the most sought-after player in Europe when the transfer window opens at the end of the season.
Liverpool have been widely associated with the England international but will face competition from rivals in the Premier League and Champions League.
Borussia Dortmund are not losing hope of keeping Bellingham, sporting director Sebastian Kehl said this week, but head coach Terzic is unconcerned.
“He still has a long-term contract with us and I never spoke to him about it,” Terzic told The Telegraph.
“The only thing we are talking about is improving his performance and trying to push him to find his limits. The rest will always be rumors, especially if you’re a young, talented English player who doesn’t play in England.”
Terzic isn’t sure about that limit yet – “he can do anything if he stays hungry,” the manager added, “but he’s confident that Bellingham won’t be the last young player to trust Dortmund with his development.
15 – Dortmund’s Jamie Byno-Gittens scored Borussia’s 15th Bundesliga goal as a teenager this season (not including own goals), as many as all other teams combined. Talent. #SWVBVB @jbgittens pic.twitter.com/ZYYzmVXcso
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) February 11, 2023
Indeed, Byno-Gittens, another English teenager, left Manchester City for Dortmund in 2020 and broke into the BVB first team at the end of last season.
Winger Byno-Gittens has played just 281 minutes in the Bundesliga this season, but in that time he has scored three goals – all as a substitute – and provided five assists.
Borussia Dortmund are only three points behind leaders Bayern in the Bundesliga and they will take on Chelsea in the Champions League on Wednesday.
“We have to build the next big thing,” Terzic said. “This is our journey and you can see that it started with Ousmane Dembele and Christian Pulisic stepping into that role and then we created our own chain reaction.
“When you are ready to sign Jadon Sancho, he will see that Ousmane Dembele had a great time at the club. Then it will be a little easier to sign a contract with Erling Haaland.
“If you have Erling, you sign Jude, and if you have Jude, it’s easier to sign Jamie.”
Terzic calmly discusses Byno-Gittens in the company, adding of the 18-year-old: “Every time he’s on the field, he’s able to make a difference, and at 18, that’s something special.
“We are confident that he will be the next player we like on the field.”
