Klopp coy over signing Holtby on loan

BERLIN, Jan 29, 2014 - Coach Jurgen Klopp refused to confirm reports on Wednesday that Borussia Dortmund are poised to try and sign German international midfielder Lewis Holtby on loan from English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur.

Dortmund are in urgent need of an attacking midfielder after Poland captain Jakub Blaszczykowski was ruled out for the rest of the season after tearing his cruciate knee ligament in last Saturday's 2-2 draw with Augsburg.

With Holtby out of favour at White Hart Lane, Spurs head coach Tim Sherwood has indicated the Germany midfielder would be allowed to leave with Dortmund poised to take him on loan, but Klopp refused to divulge whether he would take it any farther.

"I know exactly what we will do, given the situation it would be imprudent not to look," said Klopp in a press conference with the transfer window to close at midnight on Friday.

"But that doesn't mean we will do anything."

Third-placed Dortmund have picked up just five points from their last seven league games and badly need to get back to winning ways at bottom side Eintracht Braunschweig on Friday.

Klopp has had a boost with Germany centre-back Mats Hummels set to return after a two-month injury lay-off.

Hummels tore ankle ligaments in Germany's friendly win over England at Wembley on November 20.

The 25-year-old has taken full part in training this week and played a 60-minute warm-up match for the reserves against VfL Bochum on Tuesday.

"It looks positive, he looked really good," said Klopp, who lost both his first-choice centre backs last November when Neven Subotic was ruled out for six months after tearing his cruciate knee ligament.