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Borussia Dortmund look to be nearing the signing of PAOK Saloniki forward Giannis Konstantelias after ending their lengthy chase for Köln star Said El Mala. Kicker reports that Dortmund have now shifted their focus decisively to the 23-year-old Greece international as they continue their search for another attacking addition. Greek outlet Gazzetta, as cited by FT, goes even further and says Konstantelias left Greece for Dortmund on Sunday morning after intensive talks between the two clubs.

The total transfer package could reportedly rise to €30m including bonuses. Konstantelias is also believed to have been offered a four-year contract worth around €3.2m per year. The speed of Dortmund’s move in this case has been striking. Get German Football News reported only last week that Dortmund had renewed their interest in Konstantelias. At that point, Kicker underlined that the PAOK attacker matched the profile BVB were looking for, but there had still been no contact between the clubs.

Konstantelias is most at ease in a central role but is capable of playing in several attacking positions. His speed, tight control and ability to beat defenders one-on-one all match the qualities sporting director Nils-Ole Book has publicly identified as priorities after Karim Adeyemi’s move to Barcelona.

For a large part of the transfer window, Konstantelias was seen more as an alternative than Dortmund’s top target. BVB spent weeks attempting to prise Said El Mala away from Cologne. GGFN reported that Dortmund eventually increased their overall outlay to more than €55m, but the key disagreement over the guaranteed part of the transfer fee remained unresolved.

Cologne then turned down a fourth offer from Dortmund. BVB were willing to put together a package well above €50m, but Köln insisted on at least €50m as a guaranteed fixed fee. Dortmund eventually withdrew from the race for El Mala after being unable to close that gap. Köln head coach René Wagner later made clear his delight that El Mala would be staying.

That call now seems to have immediately reopened the path towards Konstantelias.

A move for Konstantelias would hand Dortmund their second major Greek attacking signing of the summer. BVB had already completed the €32m arrival of Konstantinos Karetsas from Genk earlier this month. The 18-year-old signed until 2031 after Dortmund finally came through similarly difficult negotiations with his former club. According to the latest report from Greece, Karetsas has spoken positively about Dortmund to his international teammate Konstantelias.

The two players would still bring somewhat different profiles. Karetsas can start on the right before moving inside and is especially valued for his creativity in tight spaces. Konstantelias is more naturally suited to central attacking areas while also offering the burst of pace and dribbling ability Dortmund have been trying to add.

Bundesliga followers will recall that Konstantelias has been down this road before. Last summer, VfB Stuttgart came extremely close to signing him from PAOK. GGFN reported on Stuttgart’s agreement with the Greek side for a deal worth €18m plus roughly €3m in bonuses. The transfer then collapsed dramatically.

Konstantelias did not turn up for his Stuttgart medical after strong opposition from supporters in Thessaloniki reportedly affected PAOK’s stance. Stuttgart ultimately stepped away from the talks. Dortmund will therefore be careful not to declare this latest agreement done too early.

This time, though, the situation appears far more advanced than when BVB first revived their interest last week. Konstantelias is reportedly already on his way to Dortmund, the clubs are believed to be at least very close to a final agreement, and the broad terms of both the €30m package and the player’s four-year contract have now become clear.

After spending weeks pursuing El Mala, Dortmund may now be on the brink of solving their attacking issue in a very different way.