It's been a busy summer transfer window for Borussia Dortmund, who have already roped in four young guns but remain in the hunt for more.
Most notably, the Bundesliga giants have been linked to FC Koln's Said El Mala. The club has already seen two of its bids for the forward rejected by the Billy Goats but Dortmund aren't giving up yet.
We reported last week that Niko Kovac's side are going to make a mammoth offer of 50 million euros, which has been Koln's asking price for the 19-year-old.
If accepted, El Mala would become the most expensive signing in the history of Dortmund. Here's how the side could lineup with him:
3-4-2-1 (the usual one)
Niko Kovac wouldn't have to change anything here and we would still have an exciting combo with Said El Mala and Konstantinos Karetsas as two menacing attacking midfielders behind the lone striker, Serhou Guirassy.
The prospect of watching El Mala tear down the left-flank with his ball-carrying ability while Karetsas offers width on the flank with his buccaneering runs, is surely tempting for the fans. The Greek international's propensity to break lines and make the final, killer pass also fits perfectly in this system.
4-3-3 (El Mala and Karetsas as wide forwards)
Alternatively, El Mala and Karetsas could operate as the conventional wingers with Guirassy leading the charge from the centre. But this would require Kovac to switch to a back-four while Karetsas would also have to adjust to life as a more right-sided attacker than his preferred No.10 role. However, the Greek isn't completely unfamiliar to the position, having operated from the right side of the wings for KRC Genk before.
4-2-3-1 (El Mala, Karetsas and Beier )
Kovac has played Maximilian Beier in a wing-back position in their last two preseason friendlies and has hinted that he could be using the German from this role more often than his usual place on the right side of BVB's offensive vanguard.
This throws up the chance of seeing him play alongside El Mala, who would occupy the left wing and cause menace in the half-spaces whilst also allowing Karetsas to play closer to his strengths from the No.10 role.
Conclusion
El Mala's arrival on the back of the Karetsas signing would hand Kovac further tactical flexibility; the kind which he never had before at the club. The youngsters bring a lot of pace, creativity and dynamism which could seriously turn Dortmund into one of Europe's best sides on the counter if the manager is able to find the right system that brings the best out of both.
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