ESPN FC's Gab Marcotti shares his thinking on why Dortmund hired former Cologne manager Peter Stoger to replace Peter Bosz.
Hoffenheim coach Julian Nagelsmann has said he will have to carefully pick what clothes he wears when his side face Borussia Dortmund on Saturday to avoid further intensifying speculation linking him with the BVB job.
Having already been touted as a possible replacement for Jupp Heynckes at Bayern Munich next summer, Nagelsmann in recent weeks has also emerged as a candidate to coach Dortmund from next season.
Although Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has reiterated that the club have not made a decision on their coach for the 2017-18 campaign, reports have suggested otherwise, and the short-term appointment of Peter Stoger has done little to silence the rumours.
Nagelsmann was seen attending Bayern's DFB Pokal game against Dortmund in April wearing a red jacket, with people seeing that as a sign of his desire to return to Munich, where his family still resides.
On Tuesday, Nagelsmann, scouting Dortmund in their away match at Mainz, wore a black jacket, and the media picked up on it again, claiming it was a clear signal he has committed his future to BVB.
"I need to be careful when I pick my outfit," Nagelsmann told reporters ahead of the trip to Dortmund. "It's all important what I'll wear, so there are no rumours.
Julian Nagelsmann has been linked with the Borussia Dortmund job.
"Usually my son picks my outfit! But he'll leave for the winter holidays tomorrow. Hopefully, I can do it all on my own."
Nagelsmann is under contract at Hoffenheim until 2021, but earlier this week the club's owner, Dietmar Hopp, said they will have to look for a new coach from 2019 onwards.
"We are capable of beating Dortmund away home," Nagelsmann said, adding that with the recent changes in the BVB dugout it is "difficult to say what will be waiting for us."
Dortmund have not won a match at the Westfalenstadion in all competitions since the 6-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in mid-September. They have since drawn twice and lost five, while scoring 11 and conceding 18.
Stephan Uersfeld is the Germany correspondent for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter @uersfeld.
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Source: espn.co.uk