Following recent news regarding Borussia Dortmund midfielder Ilkay Gundogan edging closer to signing a deal with Manchester United and after manager Jurgen Klopp revealed he would be resigning at the end of the campaign, will the German Bundesliga side undergo a mass exodus of players this summer?
Dortmund might feel compelled to cash in on Gundogan, as the German international is out of contract at the end of the 2015/16 season. The Bundesliga outfit missed on the opportunity to cash in on Robert Lewandowski when the Polish striker had a year to run on his deal. Dortmund opted to keep him, and he left to join rivals Bayern Munich on a free transfer last summer.
Gradually BVB are beginning to lose the core of their squad, and it comes at a time when they are on course to finish in their lowest league position for seven years. By his own admission, Klopp is leaving the club because he feels he is no longer the right man to lead Dortmund forward, so BVB will be commence a new chapter in their history following his departure.
His exit comes not only on the tail end of a miserable Bundesliga campaign, but also with Dortmund set to lose a number of key players this summer. The likes of Marco Reus have been linked with every top European side over the last two years, and he looks destined for a big-money move. Defender and captain Mats Hummels has been linked with Manchester United all season, and there is a lot of interest in securing his services.
Manager Jurgen Klopp was one of the main reasons so many players wanted to play for Dortmund, and his departure could signal the start of a massive transfer campaign with many players leaving the club. Thus, a domino effect could ensue, forcing the German side to begin a major rebuilding process this summer. The concern for supporters is that it could be the end of Dortmund as title-chasers and a Champions League heavyweight, leading to years stuck in mediocrity.
Dortmund are set to lose players that cannot be easily replaced, meaning Bayern Munich’s stronghold on the division could become even more of a given for the next few years unless a challenger can stand up to them. Dortmund won back-to-back titles under Klopp in 2010/11 and 2011/12, but have since fallen short. The situation became even worse at the sight of their best players being snatched by their Bavarian nemesis.
Could a repeat occur this summer, starting with Klopp’s and Gundogan’s exit?
To leave a comment, you must be logged into www.eurofantasyleague.com