Man Utd and Arsenal transfer target told he ‘isn’t that good’ and must ‘grow up’

Karim Adeyemi isn’t good enough to justify the grief he causes Borussia Dortmund and needs to ‘grow up’ if he wants to seal a big-money move to the Premier League.

That’s the view of Dietmar Hamann, who pulled no punches with his assessment of Adeyemi following Dortmund’s 2-0 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

Adeyemi had returned to Niko Kovac’s starting XI having come on as a late substitute in the side’s previous Bundesliga clash with Freiburg, which finished 1-1.

But Adeyemi was removed while BVB held a one-goal advantage on Friday night – and the attacker was not impressed, making a beeline for the dressing room before sporting director Sebastian Kehl stopped him in his tracks.

‘His substitution was completely warranted. He didn’t play well,’ Kehl told reporters after the match.

‘He will receive a fine for that. There will be something to talk about.

‘I don’t want to see that reaction, the coach doesn’t, the team doesn’t.’

It’s not the first time that Adeyemi has hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons this season, with the winger charged with the possession of two illegal weapons – a knuckleduster and a stun gun – just last month.

Questions have been asked of Adeyemi’s behaviour and attitude throughout his time with BVB and there is mounting speculation that this year could be his last at Westfalenstadion.

Several top teams across Europe are known to be admirers of Adeyemi, a player renowned for his blistering pace, and the forward’s strong start to the campaign will only have solidified that interest.

According to The Mirror, Manchester United are among the many sides monitoring Adeyemi’s situation at Dortmund, with the Red Devils said to have spoken to the 23-year-old’s representative Jorge Mendes about a possible move.

However, Premier League leaders Arsenal are believed to be Adeyemi’s ‘preferred destination’ should he decide to pursue a fresh challenge away from Dortmund at the end of the campaign.

But former Liverpool and Germany midfielder Hamann has serious doubts as to whether Adeyemi’s positives outweigh the negatives he brings off the field.

‘These indiscipline issues have crept in over the last few weeks,’ Hamann told Sky Deutschland.

‘If he doesn’t want to be substituted then he should go and play tennis or golf. I understand why Kehl is so fed up with him.

‘Every week, every other week, something comes out of his mouth. And he’s really not that good.

‘If he were scoring 25 goals or more, then I’d say, “Do what you want”, but he’s just not that good.’

Hamann warned Adeyemi that the Premier League’s top teams ‘won’t even look at him’ if he is unable to show that he has grown in ‘maturity’.

‘Dortmund wants to extend his contract. I don’t know if he wants to,’ Hamann continued.

‘Now, they have to find a solution.

‘He has a huge market in England but they won’t even look at him in England if he doesn’t grow up.

‘It’s up to him to show Dortmund – or whichever team he wants to join – that he’s mature.

‘Despite these escapades, he plays very good football.’

German newspaper Bild claim that Kehl has arranged a meeting with Dortmund directors Lars Ricken and Carsten Cramer to discuss Adeyemi’s behaviour against Gladbach and a proposed fine.

Adeyemi has just 18 months remaining on his current contract with BVB and the club must decide whether a summer sale would be in the best interest of all parties.

It’s understood Dortmund would demand a fee in excess of £75million for the Germany international.

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