Should Borussia Dortmund target VFB Stuttgart’s Chris Führich?

Borussia Dortmund’s transfer plans seem to be turning back to the Bundesliga once again as the summer transfer window inches closer. This time, their attention seems to have been drawn to VFB Stuttgart’s Chris Führich.

Führich is very much a known quantity to Borussia Dortmund, as the German used to play for Dortmund’s youth teams as well as Dortmund’s second team. The player never made a breakthrough with Dortmund’s first team, and after a stint with SC Paderborn, he made the move to Stuttgart in July of 2021. 

Führich was signed for 2.5 million euros, a bargain for Stuttgart in the grand scheme of things as he has been one of the club’s most important players in their impressive season so far. Führich currently has seven goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga this season; numbers that have caught the interest of Julian Nagelsmann and will see Führich called up for Germany during the international break. 

Alongside Dortmund, Führich has allegedly piqued the interest of other Bundesliga clubs as well. The likes of Bayer Leverkusen and RB Leipzig are also seemingly keen on the player, as well as some yet to be named Premier League sides. The player is said to have a release clause of 20 million euros. More recent speculation suggests Bayern Munich are also interested.

The question then is, would a move for Führich make sense for Dortmund? The answer to this question really depends on how one frames the argument.

As we’ve already mentioned, Führich’s has been in impressive form this season, and the player has improved on every prior season with Stuttgart. Last season, Führich ended the campaign with five goals and two assists, while his first season with the club yielded three goals and two assists. He also fits the profile of a player that Dortmund likely appreciates, namely one that can go one on one with players with great efficiency. The player has 2.65 successful take ons per 90, and finds himself in the 88th percentile for assists (0.34 per 90). 

There is also the question of whether Führich wants to return to Dortmund after his first stint, which as we’ve noted wasn’t a very successful one. The player won’t really be compelled to move as Stuttgart are likely to be playing Champions League football next season as well.

The amount of competition the player will be faced with will also be important as well. With Dortmund looking likely to part ways with players in the attacking positions this summer however, this may end up being less of an issue once the transfer window opens. 

While, as with most rumors this early on, a move is far from concrete, there is evidence to suggest that Dortmund will look to make some attacking signings this coming summer as several players may be on their way out. It will all depend on who exactly ends up leaving, and where Dortmund would seek to fit Führich into their squad planning.