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Who can Borussia Dortmund sign to strengthen their squad in January?

By Brian Szlenk Straub

Genoa's Polish forward Krzysztof Piatek gestures during the Italian Serie A football match Genoa vs Napoli at the Luigi-Ferraris stadium on November 10, 2018 in Genoa. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo credit should read MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images)
Genoa's Polish forward Krzysztof Piatek gestures during the Italian Serie A football match Genoa vs Napoli at the Luigi-Ferraris stadium on November 10, 2018 in Genoa. (Photo by Marco BERTORELLO / AFP) (Photo credit should read MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP/Getty Images) /
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Ferland Mendy of Lyon battles with Ilkay Gundogan of Man City during the Group F match of the UEFA Champions League between Manchester City and Olympique Lyonnais at the Etihad Stadium on September 19, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 19: Ferland Mendy of Lyon battles with Ilkay Gundogan of Man City during the Group F match of the UEFA Champions League between Manchester City and Olympique Lyonnais at the Etihad Stadium on September 19, 2018 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images) /

Ferland Mendy

Ferland Mendy, unlike Grimaldo, is a player Dortmund fans have most likely never heard of, and that’s okay, because he is the first player on this list that the club have never been linked with. Mendy does have something in common with Grimaldo, though, as they’ve both at one time been targets of Barcelona.

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In Mendy’s case, these links have been recent. The Lyon left back has enjoyed a very nice spell with the French side, providing a goal and 7 assists across all competitions since signing for the club in the summer of 2017. The Guardian also listed Mendy as one of Europe’s breakthrough stars in the 2017-2018 season.

With regards to his playing style, ESPN’s Matt Stanger describes Ferland Mendy as an attack minded full back, stating, “the 22-year-old is careful in possession, playing short passes into midfield as he waits for the opportunity for a quick exchange that allows him to exploit the space beyond his opposing full-back.”

This is coupled with a very tenacious competitive nature, according to Stanger. It is this competitiveness that makes Mendy, in my eyes, the ideal target for Borussia Dortmund at the moment. Just like with Grimaldo, we would be getting a left back with vision and the will to include himself in the attack, but at a much lower cost, with Mendy’s valuation being closer to £10.8 million.

Mendy would not be an undisputed starter, which would surely more likely be the case with Grimaldo, and he could learn from Schmelzer for a couple of years before taking over the role from the veteran fullback. In this case, I would certainly take a risk on the promising French youngster. Our luck with signing players from Ligue 1 surely won’t betray us now, right?

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