5 players Borussia Dortmund should sign this January

With the January transfer window just around the corner, it’s that time of year again where clubs are linked with numerous players, while Borussia Dortmund will be no different.

At the minute, many regard the Bundesliga club to be in a crisis, having gone on a run of one win in 13 fixtures – a win against third-tier Magdeburg in the DFB Pokal – before sacking then head coach, Peter Bosz.

Sacked by Cologne, Peter Stoger was unveiled as the new Borussia Dortmund coach until June 2018, while it’s likely he’ll be looking to build his own team after earning his first win as BVB head coach against Mainz on Tuesday night.

And so, here are five players that Dortmund could target in January.

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#5 Mariano Diaz

Having joined Olympique Lyon in the summer, former Real Madrid forward Mariano Diaz has gone from strength to strength after moving to the Ligue 1 club.

Scoring 12 league goals in just 17 appearances makes the 24-year-old one of Europe’s top strikers, which has also attracted the interest of Borussia Dortmund’s rivals, Bayern Munich.

Despite being just six feet tall, Diaz is strong in the air, winning more than half of his duels while he can finish with both feet, making him a clinical finisher. And with Maximillian Philipp out injured for the foreseeable future, Diaz would be a perfect replacement given he can play in multiple positions.

With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang the only out-and-out striker so to speak, Borussia Dortmund really lack a goalscorer should the Gabon international be out of the team and given speculation over a move away from Dortmund, it may be wise for the Bundesliga club to invest in a new forward.

With 140 goals in 211 appearances in all competitions, Aubameyang finds himself third in Dortmund’s all-time top scorers and so it’s certainly going to be difficult to replace him once he does depart, which is why sporting director Michael Zorc needs to look at all options.

#4 Bernardo Silva

After swapping AS Monaco for Premier League leaders Manchester City, Bernardo Silva has yet to cement himself as a starter in Pep Guardiola’s XI which provides the Portugal international with a dilemma.

The 23-year-old will want to feature as much as possible in what is a World Cup year, while Borussia Dortmund can certainly offer him playing time given their injury crisis.

Silva, who came through SL Benfica’s famed youth academy, can play in several positions. Although a No. 10 by trade, the nifty playmaker can play on either flank but can also play a little deeper, perhaps alongside a player of Julian Weigl or Gonzalo Castro’s ability.

And should Manchester City demand a large sum given they forked out £43 million, this shouldn’t be a problem for Borussia Dortmund due to the fact they brought in more than €100 million for Ousmane Dembele, who joined Barcelona.

But given his potential, he could become David Silva’s replacement at City and for that reason, a loan move may be a good idea for all parties, Manchester City, Borussia Dortmund and Bernardo Silva.

While Dortmund had been linked with Julian Draxler throughout the summer, it’s unlikely this move will materialise in January while Silva could be a good stop-gap for the time being.

#3 Manuel Akanji

Born to a Nigerian father and a Swiss mother, Manuel Akanji is already making a name for himself in European football. The FC Basel central defender’s rise to the top has been remarkable while it’s clear to see just why elite football clubs are after him.

At just 22, Akanji has made a name for himself in the Switzerland national team, while he’s the latest talent off a long list within Swiss football, where he’s played alongside a friend, Denis Zakaria, who is now at Borussia Monchengladbach.

It would be wise for a club such as Borussia Dortmund to make a move for Akanji. The central defender already has experience in the Champions League where he’s produced some of his best performances. At such a young age, Akanji has already featured in more than half-a-century of games for Basel.

Strong in the air, Akanji is comfortable at both the left and right side of the central defence, while he’s also deputised at full-back when needed.

Signing the Switzerland international would be a statement of intent from Borussia Dortmund. To sign a top young defender ahead of the likes of Manchester United and Bayern Munich doesn’t come often and that’s why Peter Stoger & Co. need to make a move now before bigger clubs come in the summer.

#2 Yerry Mina

Yerry Mina’s agent, Jair Mina, has revealed that Borussia Dortmund are interested in the Colombian defender, while it was reported that the 23-year-old had signed a pre-contract agreement with Barcelona.

“Other clubs have now been in contact and are currently talking with Palmeiras, including Borussia Dortmund and they are an interesting option for the player. There is no official bid from them but the player would be interested in joining them,” Jair Mina told COPE.

At just 23, Mina has already earned six caps for Colombia, according to Transfermarkt, attracting the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs while the injuries Dortmund have in defence could force their hand, having to make a move for a central defender.

Prior to Peter Stoger’s arrival and first win on Tuesday night, Borussia Dortmund had conceded 23 goals in just 15 Bundesliga fixtures, while they also failed to get out of their Champions League group, finishing third in a group that included Real Madrid and Tottenham Hotspur.

Whether Michael Zorc and Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke do decide to sign a central defender, one of Manuel Akanji or Yerry Mina will prove to be smart signings, given their age and the experience that both already have.

Reports suggest Dortmund would have to pay approximately 9 million euros.

#1 Inaki Williams

It’s clear to see just why Athletic Club slapped a 50 million euros release clause on their young forward, Inaki Williams. Born in Bilbao, the 23-year-old has risen through the ranks at the Spanish club, becoming one of the most exciting talents in not only the club’s history but also Spain’s.

Williams, who is yet to feature for the full international side, has played 136 games for Athletic in all competitions, scoring 29 and creating 20. In a team surrounded by better players, such as Mario Götze, Shinji Kagawa, Marco Reus & Co. at Borussia Dortmund, it would certainly be interesting just to see what Williams can achieve.

Premier League clubs such as Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool have already shown some interest in signing the Athletic academy product but a pull that perhaps Dortmund do have over their competitors is that they’re able to offer playing time.

That’s just one reason why Ousmane Dembele joined the club over Real Madrid last summer, before moving on to Barcelona, while it’s certain that Williams will get minutes on this Dortmund side.

And with money still in the bank from that Dembele transfer, they may so wish to invest in Spain’s next winger, Williams.