Niko Kovač has led Dortmund to consecutive Champions League qualifications since taking over from Nuri Šahin, via interim coach Mike Tullberg, in February 2025, and the club currently sit top of the Bundesliga after four wins from four league games.
It is little surprise, then, that the club's hierarchy want to extend his stay beyond 2027, the date his contract, renewed by a year in August 2025, is set to expire.
Sport Bild reports that Kovač himself does not see his work at Dortmund as finished, meaning fresh terms should follow quickly once talks begin. The magazine's current edition states that the 54-year-old is expected to sign a new contract in October.
Dortmund want to settle other business first. Managing directors Carsten Cramer, Lars Ricken, who oversees football matters, and Thomas Tress, in charge of finances, are all due to have their own contracts extended before Kovač's situation is addressed, according to club president Hans-Joachim Watzke.
Sports director Ricken told Sport Bild he senses a genuine trust with Kovač built over their time working together: "It's important to him to be successful now and not get restless because of the contract situation. I think that goes for both of us, and I believe a real relationship of trust has grown there."
Ricken also noted that Kovač has now taken charge of 52 Bundesliga matches for the club, and said he believes the Croatian still holds the best points-per-game average of any coach in Dortmund's history.