What signings do Borussia Dortmund need to make in the January transfer window?

Stefan Bienkowski

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 3 min read

When it comes to buying low and selling high, Borussia Dortmund are unquestionably one of the best clubs in European football at taking advantage of the transfer window. And that’s exactly what we should probably expect from the Bundesliga side in the coming January transfer window. 

Defence

Dortmund’s defensive line is a peculiar one because, despite looking rather threadbare at times, Favre’s team have actually improved on last season’s stats and look like a far more solid unit in this current campaign.

Yet, there are always improvements that can be made. As Emre Can’s regular appearances in central defence suggest, Dortmund are just one long-term injury to Mats Hummels or Manuel Akanji away from a bit of a panic in defence. 

Although Favre should have Dan-Axel Zagadou back from injury before the January window, a club of Dortmund’s stature should have more than Can as the fill-in whenever one of their central defenders picks up an injury. 

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Midfield 

Having spent more than £40 million (€44m) on central midfielders in the summer transfer window, Dortmund would probably be loathed to fork out even more in January in the same position and sure enough the Bundesliga giants have at least six outstanding players currently fighting for two or three central midfield positions each week. 

Offers from bigger clubs for some of these midfielders – particularly young English star Jude Bellingham – will inevitably be talked about in the lead up to January, but it’ll have to be something concrete that dislodges Dortmund’s happy medium in the centre of the park that would then force them to go out and buy another midfielder. 

Attack

Like the situation in the middle of the park, Dortmund’s attacking ranks are exceptionally well stocked and would probably require a significant offer to force the club into signing a replacement for one of their current players. 

On either wing Favre has Jadon Sancho, Julian Brandt, Thorgan Hazard, Giovanni Reyna, Reinier and Marco Reus to pick from each week and up front Erling Haaland is showing no signs of slowing down. 

One could perhaps argue that Haaland has no obvious back up but Favre has often seemed comfortable playing Reus or Hazard through the middle when called upon. In truth, Dortmund are in no real need of more attacking players. 

Conclusion

Without any remarkable and irresistible offers coming in from bigger clubs for their forwards or midfielders, it seems as though January may be a transfer window that Dortmund may use to try and plug a few potential holes in defence.