With a sum of at least £70m burning in their pockets in the near future, German giants Borussia Dortmund are cash-flush. BVB have just cashed in on Jadon Sancho, selling the precocious youngster to Manchester United. Though the deal is not done yet, there is believed to be little to no opportunity for the transfer to fall through. As such, the Germans are making a few crucial moves to give new coach Marco Rose an even better squad.
Sancho, who played a crucial role in BVB winning the DFB Pokal and qualifying for the UEFA Champions League, will move to England again. Dortmund, though, are keen to make some fast signings. The name most linked to replace Sancho has not yet been defined, though links with PSV Eindhoven attacker Donyell Malen exists.
However, with Marcel Schmelzer exiting the club, Dortmund are down to just one full-back who can play on the left-hand side in Nico Schulz. Though Raphael Guerreiro plays the position, too, Dortmund are believed to be keen on a proper full-back. The name being most heavily linked is that of Marcel Halstenberg.
The 29-year-old is a German international who can comfortably play in a back-three or as a left-back in a four-man defensive shape. He offers versatility, quality delivery, excellent defensive smarts, and consistency. For Dortmund, the arrival of a proper full-back who could offer a more defensive option, as well as play in a three-at-the-back system, could be essential to their development.
With two goals last year as well as two assists in only 24 games, Halstenberg is seen as the ideal addition to the Dortmund side. With the player also not as regular as he once was at Leipzig, a return to Dortmund – whom he played for their B side – could appeal.
Will Donyell Malen also sign?
In terms of a more like-for-like replacement for Sancho himself, Dortmund are believed to be close to signing Donyell Malen. The 22-year-old has 13 caps for the Dutch national side, scoring twice. He has also enjoyed an excellent playing career at PSV Eindhoven, scoring a highly impressive 40 goals in only 81 league games.
A former Ajax and Arsenal player, Malen quite the Gunners in 2017 to move to PSV and get regular game-time. Having exploded into the first team on the back of some highly impressive individual performances for Jong PSV, the player is now seen as a must-have for several teams across Europe.
Should BVB wish to stick to the English-related side, though, they might even target PSV winger Noni Madueke. The youngster has quickly grown into a regular for first-team action at PSV, and could become a key player in the future. If Dortmund wish to go down the route of signing a player who is arguably more of a project, then this would make immediate sense.
Either way, it looks like Dortmund will need to go and sign a new forward and also bolster their squad with the funds provided by Sancho.
Leave A Comment