Borussia Dortmund face a jarring setback as 19-year-old winger Julien Duranville succumbs to a suspected shoulder injury, sidelining him for months, reports Ruhr Nachrichten’s Yannik Winkelmann.
The Belgian starlet, acquired from Anderlecht for €8.5 million in 2023, dims hopes for a dynamic flank as the Bundesliga nears. Duranville’s injury, a likely acromioclavicular joint issue sustained in training and amplified against Real Madrid, may demand surgery, clouding his return before late 2025.
Borussia Dortmund’s wing depth is rapidly thinning, with Julien Duranville’s months-long absence due to this shoulder injury compounding the loss of Jamie Gittens, who was sold to Chelsea for €65 million.
The loss of Gittens’ dynamism and Duranville’s electric pace stifles BVB’s attacking width, leaving Kovač’s setup vulnerable as the Bundesliga nears.
Kovač’s utilization of narrow forwards may inadvertently veil the severity of this situation. In reality, these departures and injury developments are going to force Dortmund to rely even more heavily on central creativity and deep runs from midfielders.
One can see the concern here. While Lars Ricken has stated that Dortmund has no pressing need to sign a holding midfielder due to an abundance of flexibility in this position, the dwindling depth out wide may force the hand.
Lars Ricken may argue that central midfield depth, with players like Jobe Bellingham, Felix Nmecha, and Pascal Groß thriving in the final third, can suffice, but it’s doubtful their box-to-box versatility alone can effectively fill the roles of a defensive midfielder, central playmaker, and wide attackers.
BVB holds time and funds from the FIFA Club World Cup and player sales, but must act urgently to align with long-term squad goals.