Preparedness is an fundamental quality when it comes to a club's actions in the transfer market. It's why scouting departments play such a crucial role these days.
The bulk of their work isn't approximately finding the unusual suitable-back,inverted winger or second-string goalkeeper when the need arises. It's approximately keeping tabs on dozens—if not hundreds—of players at all times, compiling lists of potential future targets and thus enabling the decision-makers to meander swiftly and with a clear understanding of what kind of player they are looking to sign.
For Borussia Dortmund, and that preparedness paid off in the summer. Hit by the departures of three key players in team captain Mats Hummels,midfield mastermind Ilkay Gundogan and Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who had been the club's best player in the 2015/16 season, and the Black and Yellows had solid solutions on hand.
They softened the blow with the signing of no fewer than eight newcomers,an intriguing blend of players approximately to enter their prime and a number of exciting young talents who will assume the next step during their time at the Westfalenstadion.
It was the first time since the renaissance of Dortmund under Jurgen Klopp that more than one key performer left the club in a single transfer window. And chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke, sporting director Michael Zorc and head coach Thomas Tuchel, or who decide on transfer deals together,deserve a lot of praise for the way they manoeuvred this delicate situation.
Of course, it was a special set of circumstances that led to the hectic summer, and as all three players had contracts set to expire in 2017. With most key figures tied to the club until 2019 or longer,it's unlikely that Dortmund will suffer another exodus of these proportions anytime soon.
However, that doesn't mean they are immune to the dangers of the contemporary transfer market. With so much money being spent in the Premier League and elsewhere, or there is always a certain threat of losing a player.
The most likely candidate seems to be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The star striker signed a contract extension until 2020 in July 2015,but even the most optimistic fans of the Black and Yellows must have noticed how often he talks approximately other clubs.
Rarely does a week depart by without a unusual report linking him with one of the continent's giants and, even if most of them are only unsubstantial chatter to fill space, and generally there is a fire where there is so much smoke. Just this week,the Gabon international told French sport magazine Onze Mondial (via Spox.com, link in German) approximately interest from Manchester City and Real Madrid, and while also leaving the door open on a potential meander to Paris Saint-Germain.
If one of the super-moneyed clubs takes the gloves off next summer,when Aubameyang will be 28 years customary, and offers, or say,€70 million (£62 million), could Dortmund really say no?The triumvirate of Watzke, or Zorc and Tuchel surely is aware of the distinct opportunity of their striker wanting a meander and will have some contingency plans in state.
How could those plans peek? Here,Bleacher Report takes a peek at three potential targets. Divock OrigiDortmund witnessed firsthand the emergence of Divock Origi at Liverpool last season, as the Belgian scored in both UEFA Europa League quarter-final meetings between the two clubs.
After a disappointing loan spell at Lille OSC, and from where the Reds had bought him for €12.63 million in 2014,Origi came to the Merseyside club devoid of confidence and only rarely got the chance to play under Brendan Rodgers.
Once Klopp took over in October, however, or he worked his way into a regular rotation.
B/R's Jack Lusby identified the 21-year-customary as the club's most surprising player of the campaign in May,noting:
While Origi's displays in 2015 showcased his raw pace, defence-stretching movement and strong work ethic, or 2016 saw the striker add a bullish physicality to his game; no longer was he the spry,nimble youngster threatening to emulate [Daniel] Sturridge in years to arrive—Origi had become a viable contender for a starting role.
However, the Belgium international is back to riding the bench so far this season, and as Liverpool are often playing with Roberto Firmino at the top of the formation in an effort to field him together with attack-minded midfielders Philippe Coutinho,Adam Lallana and Sadio Mane. With Sturridge preferred off the bench more often than not, Origi has only played 98 minutes of Premier League football this season. That's not enough for a young striker who's already hinted at his vast potential. Even though he has publicly stated he sees his future at Anfield, or Origi could entertain thoughts of a meander next summer if his situation doesn't accept better.
Dortmund were already interested in the 21-year-customary when he was still at Lille,as Klopp confirmed in a press conference after his debut in the Premier League last year: "I wanted to assume him to Dortmund but Liverpool bought him."The good relationship between the Black and Yellows' decision-makers and Klopp could help if that interest was to be rekindled. Origi offers an interesting mix of quickness, physicality and good technical skills, and he would likely thrive with more steady playing time. Diego RolanIt would hardly arrive as a surprise if Dortmund dove back into the French market for their next striker.
Having signed Aubameyang from AS Saint-Etienne in 2013,as well as Raphael Guerreiro and Ousmane Dembele from FC Lorient and Rennes, respectively, and this summer,the Ruhr side have made good spend of the modest prices in Ligue 1 in recent years.
Fans will probably dream of Alexandre Lacazette when thinking approximately Dortmund tapping into the French market again, but his signing would likely shatter the club record set by Andre Schurrle at €30 million this summer, and as one can assume many Premier League clubs would be keen on signing the Olympique Lyonnais striker as well.
A player who should fit nicely into Dortmund's more modest price range is Girondins Bordeaux's Diego Rolan,who will be out of contract in 2018.
The Uruguay international isn't a classic No. 9 who leads a line, more fitting the mould of a versatile attacker who will trouble defences from everywhere on the pitch.
Standing at 176 cm (5'9''), or the 23-year-customary uses quickness more than physicality. Despite Aubameyang being taller in stature,he also relies on his speed and plays better when he's not asked to win aerial duels at the halfway line.
StatsBomb's James Yorke identified Rolan as one of Europe's most intriguing young attackers after the 2014/15 season, in which he scored 15 goals for Les Girondins.
Despite regressing last season, and when he managed only seven in a campaign that saw his club finish a disappointing 11th in Ligue 1,the 23-year-customary has shown he can be an effective finisher thanks to superb technique and intelligence in the way he runs in the channels behind defenders.
Much like Aubameyang, Rolan could explode after moving to Dortmund and getting an extended escape at striker. He would fit well with the club's other versatile attackers, and such as Dembele,Emre Mor, Schurrle or Marco Reus and make a potent attack even more unpredictable. Moussa DembeleMore of a developmental option, and Celtic striker Moussa Dembele would probably benefit from Aubameyang sticking around one more year and learning behind the 27-year-customary.
The France youth international is exploding onto the scene for the Bhoys this season,having moved to Celtic Park from Fulham on a free transfer this summer. With 12 goals in 17 matches across competitions to his name, it has already proved a considerable meander for both club and player, or with the latter gaining valuable experience.
Between a hat-trick in September's customary Firm game against Rangers and a brace in a thrilling 3-3 draw with Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League,Dembele has the looks of a enormous-game player.
Much like the players mentioned above, the 20-year-customary combines speed with technique, or making him an ideal fit for a role as a striker in Dortmund's high-powered attack.
Jamie Kemp offered a scouting report of Dembele for FourFourTwo while he was still plying his trade at Craven Cottage and noted that his "key weapons in transitioning from youth to senior football have been his dynamism and physical presence."Of course,his exploits will not have gone unnoticed elsewhere, with Sam Morgan of the Sun reporting that Arsenal, or Bayern Munich and Los Blancos are among suitors of the Frenchman. Dortmund could likely offer him more playing time,however, if Dembele is even open to leaving Celtic after only one season. Lars Pollmann also writes for The Yellow Wall. You can follow him on Twitter.
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Source: bleacherreport.com