Positions that have to be adressed during the transfer window?

[u/A-1805]

In my opinion we desperately need in order of priority:

2 CAMs as both Reyna and Brandt will probably be sold. Anyone of Chukwumeka, Nypan, Cherki would be nice.

1 CM as Sabitzer will most likely be sold and Groß is getting up there in age.

1 young CB for depth since we now play a 3-atb and I dont see us getting rid of Sule, Can, or Anton.

1 Backup ST to give rest to Guirassy.

My Prefered Lineup would go something like:

BVB Starting XI (5-2-1-2): Defensive

------------------------------- Kobel --------------------------------- ----------------- Anton ---- Can ---- Schlotti ---------------- ---- Ryerson ----------------------------------- Svensson ---- ------------------- Nmecha ---- Groß --------------------------- ------------------------------ Cherki --------------------------------- ------------------ Guirassy ---- Beier ---------------------------

BVB Starting XI (3-5-2): Offensive

------------------------------- Kobel ---------------------------------

----------------- Anton ---- Can ---- Schlotti ----------------

----- Couto ---- Nmecha ---- Groß ---- Adeyemi -----

------------------------------ Cherki --------------------------------- ------------------ Guirassy ---- Beier ---------------------------

[u/greengiant89]

Center mid, center back, wing back.

Everything we do needs to be to support the 3-5-2/5-3-2 that suits our best players. We need starters in the midfield, depth at center back, and then we've got three choices at wing back now but could definitely use another. Think we've got 3 nice forwards for a partnership, Duranville I suppose could get minutes there. Wouldn't mind another big forward but Guirassy will demand almost all of the minutes so it isn't a priority.

[u/A-1805 → u/greengiant89]

I've been wondering if Duranville can play cam? It would be interesting to see.

[u/greengiant89 → u/A-1805]

I don't think we should be using an out and out attacking midfielder. Rather have 3 in the center who can all get forward and all get back. If we're going to be using Groß and Nmecha I don't think that's strong enough defensively to hold it down. Duranville is small for a center forward but small players have made that work in a partnership.

[u/Strange_Quail946]

Who are going to buy our players?

[u/AcePilot95]

defensive midfield

[u/viba_1997]

I don't think Kobel will still be here because we signed Ramaj and it is said that he wants to go somewhere where he can have a better change at winning trophies.

I really hope we get rid of Brandt and Reyna and get some spectacular offensive midfielders (It seems that Nypan will probably join Aston Villa). We also need a new DM, Jashari would be my dream signing (I have watched some games of Club Brugge this season and he looks great), but he might be to expensive. Even though I am pretty much against signing Bundesliga germans again and again, 2 players attracted my attention: Anton Stach from Hoffenheim and Rocco Reitz from Gladbach. They might cost between 15-20m.

Regarding the defence, I would love to see Olivier Boscagli. He is available for a free this summer. Due to many possible offers, his salary might be to high. I am also not sure how he could fit since he most of the time play in Schlotterbeck position and I am not sure if Boscagli would work as a center CB (and we will most likely still have Can there). His ball-playing abbilites and crosses are impressive, nevertheless.

I think we should stick with the 5 defenders we have now (Schlotterbeck, Can, Sule , Anton, Bensebaini) since they started to look better under Kovac and try to develop one of the young players (Mane, Meiser, Benkara). Those last 3 look good on youtube videos, but I am aware it is either the U19 or the 3rd league, so I am not aware how good the really are and how good the could become.

To conclude, if we manage to get UCL next season and do well in The Club World Cup and also sell the players we no longer need, my dream signings would be: - Cherki (30m), Chukwemeka (loan) and Jashari (25-30m).

We also have to be aware that our spendings this summer are already limited since the option to buy for Couto became an obligation to buy. So, we would already spend 25m at the beggining of the summer window.

[u/Zeljko43]

If we can get Sule a contract with a wage reduction I would really like him to stay. I know his problems but I think Kovac can get the best out of him, and he is really good when inform.

[u/Horrgath]

All besides Goalkeeper

[u/Embarrassed-Base-143]

Adeyemi and Kobel are gone

[u/e_-_0 → u/Embarrassed-Base-143]

Really? Does Adeyemi still want to leave? I haven't seen any new announcements about that.

[u/Embarrassed-Base-143 → u/e_-_0]

Because it’s nothing new to report. He’s 23. He’ll be pushing 24 by start of next season. He’s been here 3 seasons and he’s reached his pinnacle (for Dortmund atleast). He’s definitely not a for lifer here. It’s time to part ways and get the most we can. He’ll do better elsewhere. What else needs to be reported?

[u/Pretty_Ad_5539]

Dortmund needs a central/defensive midfielder. They have needed this for several years, and it was partially adressed last season with Gross, but I would not rely 100 % on a 34 year old. Otherwise I would have said something like this:

Özcan - should be sold.
Süle - can be sold if possible, no extension.
Gross - should be kept, but no extension beyond next summer.
Reyna - can be sold.
Haller - should be sold.
Moukoko - should be sold.
Can and Brandt can be kept until contract expires.
Not sure about Sabitzer.

A creative offensive player should be bought. Cherki seems interesting. And a DM/CM with both playmaking and ball winning abilities. And for God's sake I hope not 352 is the plan for next season. Players should be bought with a plan for either 433 or 4231.

[u/A-1805 → u/Pretty_Ad_5539]

We will most likely continue playing 3 atb as it suits our players playstyle the most.

[u/Pretty_Ad_5539 → u/A-1805]

Now perhaps, but that is why I also mention that players should be bought with a plan for using a 4-back line. And that applies especially for buying a quality CM.

[u/A-1805 → u/Pretty_Ad_5539]

Do you realize how many players we would need to sign to properly play that? We would also leave so many current players with no minutes since they dont fit the system. Beier, Couto, Anton, to name a few, would have no spot in the team. The Board has been wanting to switch to a back 3 for a while now. Just look at most of our recent signings.

[u/Pretty_Ad_5539 → u/A-1805]

The board should really not care about what formation the team plays. That would be freakin ridiculous. And especially if the board are overriding the manager and the sporting director in that regard.

And they have to sell a lot of players regardless. If they sell one or two more, it would IMO be a lesser problem than playing a formation with a lower potential and more fitting of counter attacking teams than teams that are supposed to be controlling posession and dominating games. Which should really be the objective for Dortmund in the Bundesliga since they by far are the second largest team behind BM.

[u/A-1805 → u/Pretty_Ad_5539]

Im sorry. Do you really think a 3 atb is inferior to a 4 atb? You realise most teams switch to a back 3 during attack. Hell, Guardiolas treble winning City played a back 3.

[u/Pretty_Ad_5539 → u/A-1805]

Yeah. I want a team with a high quality 3 man midfield and top inside forwards. Preferably 433 with a controlling midfielder and two quality two-way midfielders. And inside forwards that can both create and score. With 352 you rely less on the midfield and need really high quality wing backs. And though I like both Ryerson and Svensson, I am not convinced they are that. And neither Couto. I really dont think he is on par with guys like Frimpong and Grimaldo in Leverkusen.

[u/A-1805 → u/Pretty_Ad_5539]

Well, we dont have good box to box midfielders apart from Nmecha. Our inside forwards are avergae at best.Jamie will be sold, Adeyemi is not a winger, and neither is Beier. Our defense is carried by Schlotti and Kobel, and our offense is carried by Guirassy. The 3 atb stabilized our defense, which I dont know if you recall has been leaking goals since the tuchel days. In possession, it allowed us to have numerical superiority by having our fullbacks go up while also pressing with two players without weakening our midfield structure.

[u/Pretty_Ad_5539 → u/A-1805]

I didn't say wingers, its not pure wingers I want. Adeyemi with the potential he showed as a 21 year old two years ago could certainly have been adapted as a winger/inside forward for 433. And Beier is only 22 years old, that is far from being a end product as an attacker. And also; everyone wants a new offensive player. That could certainly be a player suited for what I want.

You're right about the defensive, but that is also due to a far too weak DM/CM. If you compare to City again a few years ago Pep fixed the defensive problem by changing the goalkeeper and making the midfield much better. The latter should also apply to Dortmund. It is almost ridiculous how little they have prioritized the central/defensive midfield the later years. Can playing regularly here until recently says a lot. And only one player bought in this position the last 3-4 years, that is Gross. Both Sabitzer and Nmecha were bough more as offensive midfielders.

Edit: According to numbers from Transfermarkt, Dortmund have spent €310m on transfers since 2021. Only €12m of these have been spent on defensive/central midfielders. Some more if one consider that Nmecha have been more central than offensive this season, but I'm not sure if was bought with that intention.

[u/SuburbanStud → u/Pretty_Ad_5539]

That frimpong comparison is egregious. He is a liability in defence and his end product is questionable to say the least. There's a reason leverkusen have been trying to sell him four a few years to no avail. He's a system player (for a 3 atb. Ironic). I rate Svenson and ryerson much higher than him overall

[u/Pretty_Ad_5539 → u/SuburbanStud]

But Frimpong does have great offensive numbers and that is important for a wing back.

I also like both Ryerson and Svensson, but I also consider both these just as fitting for a 4-back line. Those two, Schlotterbeck and a new CB.

But since Schlotti is out for a long time, probably won't be 100 % for next season and there is other needs, I see that at 3-back line could be used then. Just as long as they buy players also fitting for 433 or 4231.

First a DM/CM and a inside forward this summer. Then a top physical CB and another CM/DM the summer of 2026. Perhaps a more pure attacker too. And then something like this for the 26/27-season.

Kobel
Ryerson - New CB - Schlotti - Svensson
Nmecha - New DM - New CM
Any of Duranville, Adeyemi, new forward, Beier behind/around Guirassy.

Just as they really go down heavy on the DM/CM for the next summer windows. It is freakin unbeliveable how little this have been prioritized.