Salih Özcan has been deemed surplus to requirements at Borussia Dortmund following the appointment of Nuri Şahin as head coach. He is not considered for the squad for the new season. Multiple top clubs in Turkey's Süper Lig have shown interest in signing Özcan, but he has rejected the offers, expressing his desire to continue his career in Europe.

Salih Özcan has expressed his desire to stay in Dortmund and fight for his place despite interest from other parties. The prospects for the former Cologne player, however, are not favorable. Pascal Groß, Emre Can, and Felix Nmecha are ahead of him in the pecking order, with Julian Brandt and Marcel Sabitzer also potential candidates for the defensive midfield position. Moreover, 18-year-old Kjell Wätjen is on the cusp of a promising career. While Özcan's abilities as a tenacious tackler and disciplined ball-winner are widely acknowledged, he does not entirely align with Sahin's vision of dominant football, which emphasizes control and creative play through the center.

Olympique Lyonnais is observing the player for a potential transfer.