Borussia Dortmund are having trouble landing the player they want to replace Sokratis Papastathopoulos, who is expected to join Arsenal, and warned they will not pay fantasy prices. 

The Ruhr giants are ready to cash in on Sokratis after he refused to extend a contract which expires next year, and a switch to the Premier League with Arsenal is expected.




Dortmund want to bring in Mainz's 22-year-old defender Abdou Diallo to replace the Greek.

But Dortmund have been quoted a whopping €28m by Mainz for Diallo, a player they paid just €5m to land from Ligue 1 side Monaco last summer.
 


The Germans are not prepared to fork out such a sum and sporting director Michael Zorc told Bild: "There are now constantly fantasy prices and inflated price expectations, which come about when we are associated [with a player]."

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It is unclear if Dortmund might put the brakes on Sokratis' proposed move to Arsenal if they cannot sign a replacement for the centre-back.

Diallo made a big impression in his first season in German football and has also been linked with Arsenal.