Opinion: Borussia Dortmund’s midfield is light in defensive midfield unless Salih Özcan is replaced

With the final days of the transfer window now upon us, Borussia Dortmund is set to continue to shake up the squad; this time in terms of departures. The most recent departure to make headlines is that of Salih Özcan, who has joined VFL Wolfsburg on loan.

Özcan’s departure to Wolfsburg has been highlighted as a result of “midfield bloat”, which, at face value, has very much become a conundrum in Dortmund. Emre Can, Özcan, Marcel Sabitzer, Pascal Groß, Felix Nmecha, and Kjell Wätjen could hardly hope to all get substantial minutes at once, and that’s not counting either Julian Brandt or Gio Reyna considering they will look to occupy the attacking midfield spot.

In letting go of Özcan, BVB have indeed cut down on clutter in midfield, and will save 4.5 million euros of salary with this loan coming into effect. The train of thought within the club seems to be with Özcan leaving, there’s no need to replace him or add to the very packed midfield options the club already possesses.

What this argument doesn’t account for, however, is that while Dortmund have depth, the quality of depth comes into question, specifically for the defensive midfield position. As of right now, Dortmund have Can (captain), Groß, possibly Sabitzer, and youngster Wätjen for the position. Sabitzer and Groß in particular will likely be the first names on the team-sheet to fill in for Can if necessary, but the simple fact remains that both have shown that they are much stronger higher up the pitch and should occupy minutes in the 8 position.

Can, at this point in time, remains the only “midfield destroyer” option in the BVB squad. And for all his faults and fluctuating form, he is the only player in this midfield that offers a certain level of steel and physicality required of a defensive midfielder. Both Groß and Sabitzer can play the role, but as mentioned earlier are better suited for roles higher up the pitch. Wätjen, while certainly deserving of minutes, shouldn’t be the main deputy to Can as his development should be both tempered and monitored. As for Felix Nmecha, he does not have the skill set to play this role effectively if called upon.

Dortmund’s loan of Özcan to Wolfsburg has subtracted a player of a certain defensive profile from the squad, which the club should be looking to replace, particularly with a younger player who could eventually take over for Can in the long run. RB Leipzig’s move for Arthur Vermeeren could even serve as a model for Dortmund to follow, as Leipzig signed the player on a loan with an obligation to buy next season. The Belgian talent, while not having made his mark in La Liga with Atletico Madrid, has ample potential and will likely be a very important player for his new team in the years to come.

Dortmund, on their end, could sign a similarly young prospect even outright or on loan with an eye on future development to make use of the space and wages vacated by Özcan. By loaning him and not replacing him, they have simply subtracted from their midfield options under the guise of depth, which in reality, for the role that the likes of Can and Özcan play, is very thin, and could end up being an issue for Dortmund in the season ahead, particularly if injuries occur.