January transfer window: What to expect from Borussia Dortmund?

The January transfer window is open and rumours are already in full swing. But what can we expect from Borussia Dortmund? The answer is probably not a lot, unless, of course, a major sale takes place as this is a fiscally cautious club in a likewise cautious league – and that is the way us Bundesliga fans like it.

Borussia Dortmund have been linked with moves for several players in recent weeks, and fans are hoping that the club will spend some money in the January transfer window. But the BVB bosses have made it clear that they are expecting a quiet winter window with not a lot of movement, especially now that games are to be played behind closed doors again due to a rise in Covid-19 cases.

Marco Rose’s side made a total of five signings in the summer transfer window, splashing a lot more money than they did in the year before.

Borussia Dortmund have conceded four more goals than they did at this point last year, but a plus-five points haul over 20/21 has much to do with the arrival of new keeper Gregor Kobel as there are still big issues in defence.

In terms of new arrivals, Donyell Malen’s three-goal haul in the league hasn’t been good enough and hasn’t nearly offset the loss of Jadon Sancho. Marin Pongracic, the VfL Wolfsburg loanee, in defence is having difficulty adjusting and looks set to leave when his loan deal expires. While highly rated PSG’s academy duo Soumaila Koulibaly and Abdoulaye Kamara have been playing for the youth teams.

The Black and Yellows were also hit hard by a slew of injuries affecting the majority of the players in the squad in the first half of the season, which certainly played a big role in their inconsistent performances on the pitch. Erling Haaland, Gio Reyna, Raphael Guerreiro, Youssoufa Moukoko, Dan-Axel Zagadou, Emre Can and several other players spent significant time on the sidelines due to injuries during the hinrunde.

With the January transfer window now open, Borussia Dortmund will be looking to offload a few players if offers arrive. Third choice goalkeeper Roman Bürki has long been free to leave the club, while Axel Witsel could also be sold. He will be 33 later this month and has been a decisive figure in midfield but his lack of pace is starting to significantly affect his performances. He will be out of contract in the summer, and an extension appears highly unlikely.

In particular, at defensive midfield, I have long perceived a need for reinforcements especially since Thomas Delaney joined to Sevilla FC for a cut-price fee in the summer. Denis Zakaria is being touted as a potential replacement for Witsel (and Delaney). He will leave Gladbach either this month or on a free transfer in the summer. But there is a lot of competition for his signature.

Highly rated English winger Jamie Bynoe-Gittens could make his senior debut in the second half of the season, with reports claiming that he is set to start training with the first team from this month after his impressive recent performances for the U-19s.

Another player who is being heavily linked with a move to Dortmund is RB Salzburg striker Karim Adeyemi. But even if Borussia Dortmund do sign him this month, he will spend the rest of the season with RB Salzburg and will only arrive in the summer.

Other Borussia Dortmund rumours include links to centre-backs Nico Schlotterbeck (SC Freiburg), Becir Omeragic (FC Zürich), Konstantinos Mavropanos (VfB Stuttgart), winger Yusuf Demir (Rapid Vienna) and attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea).

But keeping the financial constraints in mind, Borussia Dortmund are not likely to be too active this month. We could potentially see the arrival of one or two loanees to bolster the squad. Only if the BVB bosses manage to sell Axel Witsel and/or Roman Bürki will we see any big incomings take place this month. If Witsel is sold, Zakaria will likely be his replacement.