4 Positions Borussia Dortmund Need to Strengthen & the Players They Should Sign to Fix Them
By Dom Smith
Borussia Dortmund are notoriously good in the transfer market.
In the past 18 months alone they've signed the hot-shot Erling Haaland for a relative pittance, Julian Brandt from Bayer Leverkusen and Germany international Emre Can, just to name a few.
But despite all these shrewd acquisitions in recent seasons, there is still a need for a few more players to be brought in - especially if BVB want to end their eight-year wait for a Bundesliga title.
Here are four key positions they need to strengthen and who they should look at bringing in.
Goalkeeper
Roman Bürki has been Dortmund’s first-choice keeper since the summer of 2015. A Switzerland international, he has previously turned down the chance to represent his country in order to focus on his form for BVB.
Although that is a promising sign for Dortmund fans, he does need competition - as shown by his occasionally flappy performances between the sticks.
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Real Sociedad’s 25-year-old shot-stopper Álex Remiro has been a bright spark for the Basque side, who are sitting pretty in fourth place in La Liga, this season. He’s been capped for Spain at youth level and would be a solid investment for the future.
RB Leipzig are certainly building something formidable, but a move for their star keeper Péter Gulácsi could prove tempting for the Hungarian. Dortmund are a bigger club and their pedigree is certainly a selling point, even if both sides are at similar stages in their development.
Gulácsi is already 29, but just look at Gianluigi Buffon - age is but merely a number for goalies, so expect him to continue his good form for years to come.
Dortmund have also been linked with Manchester City's Zack Steffen. The 24-year-old joined the Premier League champions last summer from Columbus Crew, but is unlikely to ever make a first team appearance for them due to the presence of both Ederson and Claudio Bravo.
Central Defence
On the surface, Dortmund shouldn't have any problems whatsoever in central defence.
Mats Hummels is pretty close to world class, even if he is admittedly past his best, while 21-year-old Leonardo Balerdi and 24-year-old Manuel Akanji have already played senior football for Argentina and Switzerland respectively.
In addition, there is a lot of hype around 20-year-old Dan-Axel Zagadou. He spent the second half of his youth career at PSG and has scored quite prolifically for France’s youth sides, representing the Under-16s right up to the Under-21s an aggregated 49 times.
But with Zagadou out injured currently and Hummels approaching the twilight of his career, signing another centre half would be a smart move from Lucien Favre.
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Favre’s side have often worked well with centre backs who can deputise in the full back areas.
In that respect, Manchester United’s Timothy Fosu-Mensah could be a good fit. Eight years in the Ajax academy was hardly going to hinder his hopes of football at the highest level, though previous loan spells at Crystal Palace and Fulham were pretty average.
He’s recently signed a new contract at the club, but a one-season loan may seem sensible for all parties. United could ease their wage bill, Dortmund would gain a versatile centre back and Fosu-Mensah would be rewarded with some much-needed game time.
Elsewhere, Miloš Veljković is an outside bet but a highly capable defender. Also trusted at times in central midfield like Fosu-Mensah, Veljković is a Swiss-born Serbia international who came to prominence when he was signed as a youngster from the Basel academy by Spurs.
Loan spells at Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic didn’t work out, but at Werder Bremen he has flourished.
Another up and coming force at the back is Frenchman Axel Disasi of Reims in Ligue 1. The 22-year-old broke through at Paris FC, but his performances since moving to Reims have been assured and have attracted interest from Arsenal and West Ham.
Germany international Niklas Stark of Hertha Berlin is just 25 and shares an agent with Marco Reus. He too would be a welcome signing at Signal Iduna Park.
Right Back
Favre has certainly got his money’s worth from Achraf Hakimi, who has been on loan from Real Madrid since 2018.
Morocco’s most exciting talent is a versatile operator who can play left back or as a winger on either side. But deploying him further back doesn’t stop him bombing forward and scoring the odd Maicon-style goal.
But with Hakimi likely to be taken back by his parent club, BVB would be left with only 34-year-old club legend Lukasz Piszczek - whose contract runs out in the summer - and young Spaniard Mateu Morey. Bolstering is needed.
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Thomas Meunier has looked unassured defensively in recent years, but he earned his big break off the back of a reputation as a goalscoring full back. If Dortmund were to consider a deal, they'd face competition from Tottenham for his signature.
Dion Cools is another alternative. Born in Malaysia, he signed a three-year contract with Midtjylland in January, so he's unlikely to move imminently, though an approach from Dortmund might pique his interest.
Jonjoe Kenny has enjoyed life away from England at Schalke this season and could be an option. He won the World Cup with England’s Under-20s in 2017 and time is on his side at just 23. However, it would be big news if Kenny did switch teams; Dortmund and Schalke famously don't like each other.
Finally, Manchester United's exciting 18-year-old Ethan Laird might be worth a gamble. It would be harsh to liken a potential move for Laird to the revolutionary transfer of Jadon Sancho from Manchester City, but time in and around the squad for Laird would be invaluable experience for the highly rated England youth international.
Striker
What? They just signed the most exciting teenager since Kylian Mbappé, right? How could they possibly need another striker?
Well, besides Haaland, it’s all a little bit bare.
Marco Reus and Mario Götze - who is expected to leave in the summer - have deputised dutifully when needed, but Dortmund are crying out for another number nine to challenge the Norwegian. It’s unlikely to be a young player, mind - no budding 23-year-old is willing to reserve a parking slot on the bench.
Whatever happened to Paco Alcácer?
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Looking at a really good but really old option, Olivier Giroud is out of contract this summer at Chelsea but clearly has more to give. Dortmund love their reputation as bargain hunters, but he wouldn't be cheap wage-wise even if he did become available on a free transfer.
Munas Dabbur would be a trustworthy back-up to Haaland, having scored at a phenomenal rate for the Norwegian's former club Salzburg before more recent stints at Sevilla and now Hoffenheim. At 27, he's just coming into his prime and would be a bargain if he could be snapped up for anything like his valued £14m region.
Former Stoke and Newcastle striker Joselu has seemed to fit in well since his transfer to Alavés last summer. A journeyman who has turned out for the likes of Real Madrid and Eintracht Frankfurt, he would likely be more comfortable with playing the back-up game than the aforementioned Dabbur.