With the new Bundesliga season just over a month away, Germany’s biggest clubs are jockeying for position as they try to assemble a squad capable of winning the title, held by FC Bayern for the last nine seasons.
After a difficult season, Borussia Dortmund made a fast finish to claim third place and qualify again for the Champions League. But before they won their final five games things looked decidedly dodgy.
The goals of Norwegian striker Erling Braut Haaland proved to be crucial and, following the news that BVB winger Jadon Sancho had agreed to sign for Manchester United in a £73m move which takes one of Die Schwarzgelben’s hottest properties to the Premier League, bosses at the club are determined to keep hold of Haaland.
Sancho has been involved in England’s Euro 2020 campaign, starring in their quarter-final victory over Ukraine, and the Dortmund recruitment team is working hard to secure a replacement.
But in the meantime, they are determined to keep hold of Haaland in the face of increasing attention from another Premier League giant, Chelsea. Blues boss Thomas Tuchel made a huge impact on his arrival at Stamford Bridge and owner Roman Abramovich is willing to back his head coach, who is a big admirer of the 6ft 4in hitman.
But BVB sporting director Michael Zorc has made it crystal clear that the London club will have to break the bank to prize Haaland away from Dortmund. He registered 27 league goals last season and the price touted is an eye-watering £150m. He’s not BVB’s only world-class player; young England star Jude Bellingham has a fantastic future ahead of him, but new Dortmund boss Marco Rose won’t want to see any more exits before he gets his feet under the table.
His first job is to find a replacement for Sancho and while the club has been linked with RB Leipzig’s Marcel Sabitzer, Rose seems more keen on PSV winger Donyell Malen: “One thing is clear,” he says, “If you lose a player like Jadon Sancho then you have to look for a winger with pace who can take players on one-to-one. That’s certainly a position where we are still looking to do something.”
The 22-year-old Malen could well fit the bill. The Dutch international impressed at Eindhoven last season, scoring 27 goals and making 10 assists in 45 appearances, and he is a versatile player, equally comfortable out wide or playing through the middle, and his pace can unsettle any defence, which is just what BVB need to replace Sancho.
Bayern look to strengthen in attack
Die Bayern claimed a ninth successive Bundesliga title in spectacular form last season, and the early Bundesliga 2021 betting odds back the Bavarians to make it to double figures.
The prolific Robert Lewandowski once again had a record-breaking season to win the Golden Boot, but new FC Bayern boss Julian Nagelsmann is looking to the future and is trying to find a striker to learn alongside the Polish maestro and then ultimately replace him.
The latest whispers are of a potential approach for Italian striker Federico Chiesa, but Juventus will not let the Azzurri star go lightly after he impressed with his performances at Euro 2020.
That’s one to watch, but elsewhere, the champions have already been linked with players to strengthen their midfield. Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi is a player who could fit in nicely, while the club has also been linked with Spain midfielder Dani Olmo, who could be ready to make the move from Leipzig to Bavaria.
Olmo too has impressed at the European Championships where La Roja were unlucky not to make the final, losing on penalties to Italy, and Bayern could face competition from Real Madrid for his signature.
And so if he needs to look elsewhere then Nagelsmann could make a swoop for Rennes sensation Eduardo Camavinga. The 18-year-old France international has entered the final 12 months of his contract at Rennes and the Ligue 1 club might be tempted to cash in if the right offer comes along, with Manchester United also in the frame.
We’re just weeks away from all the major European leagues kicking off again and there is plenty of wheeling and dealing to be done as the big teams strengthen their hands and try to keep hold of their prized assets.
So keep it here at SBOTOP folks, as we keep the Bundesliga 2021 news and updates coming as they happen.
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