Borussia Dortmund’s Axel Witsel continues to be linked with Juventus move

Juventus continue to monitor Axel Witsel’s situation at Borussia Dortmund and are still considering a move for the Belgian international in January.

According to multiple reports, Axel Witsel has become one of Juventus’ primary targets for the winter transfer window. The Belgium international is out of contract at the end of the season and would probably be an inexpensive signing, should Dortmund choose to sell. The move is allegedly dependent on whether or not Emre Can and Mahmoud Dahoud are fit to play come January.

In some ways, the move makes sense for both parties; Juventus can add depth in midfield and Dortmund can cash in on an aging player who is, as mentioned, out of contract at the end of the season.

The fact of the matter is that if Dortmund do sell Witsel, they will be rather light in terms of midfield personnel. Thomas Delaney was considered surplus to requirements this past summer and the Danish international was allowed to move to Sevilla.

This puts further scrutiny on whether allowing the Dane to leave was prudent if the plan was for Witsel to leave all along. This further makes me hope, if not fully believe, that the club has a plan to fill the gap that would inevitably be left by the potential departure of Witsel.

Over the course of his time with Dortmund, Witsel has made 121 appearances for the Black and Yellows, scoring 11 times and assisting a further 6. The best of these seasons was his first under Lucien Favre, where “Chaloupe” was responsible for dictating Dortmund’s midfield to great effect. Since then, the Belgian international’s influence has slightly waned. Dortmund may be due for a bit of renovation in midfield. But it remains to be seen as to whether this transfer window will be the right time for the club to reinvent themselves in the middle of the park, particularly considering that they are looking to sign Karim Adeyemi as well.