BVB has a transfer problem

After ten matchdays in the Bundesliga, Borussia Dortmund is only in eighth place with a negative goal difference. What is BVB’s problem? In the transfer policy. A comment.

Before the season it was hoped that Borussia Dortmund would make the championship more exciting than in recent years. After BVB’s 2-0 defeat at Union Berlin, that’s the way it is – just different than you had imagined in Dortmund.

Union is sensationally ahead of FC Bayern by four points after the 10th matchday. BVB lags behind in the championship.

Sure, that can change again quickly, all teams are close together in terms of points. But so far Dortmund is far from taking advantage of Bayern’s unusual point losses.

If things don’t go well at BVB, the question of mentality is quickly raised. Or as Mats Hummels recently criticized the playing style of the teammates. Or, like Marco Rose last season, the coach was held accountable.

BVB: Sports Director Sebastian Kehl in charge

But it is rarely discussed: BVB has a transfer problem.

Top players were given away again and again. Many millions were paid for this, which is also part of BVB’s business model. Too often, however, this loss of quality has not been compensated for in recent years. As a result, the Dortmund team simply got worse.

Thomas Meunier is now playing where Achraf Hakimi once played. Donyell Malen couldn’t begin to make up for the departure of Jadon Sancho. And instead of Erling Haaland, Anthony Modeste is in the storm.

Of course, nobody could have expected Sébastien Haller’s tragic cancer, who was actually supposed to inherit Haaland.

But fundamentally, the squad is currently simply less quality than before. Responsible for this are those who put together the squad at BVB and make the transfers. Above all sports director Sebastian Kehl.

BVB: Adeyemi and Süle are not working yet

Two of his most recent additions in particular are currently not working. Karim Adeyemi still looks like a foreign body. Apparently, coach Edin Terzic’s system doesn’t have the right position for the German international.

Niklas Süle is also far from becoming the hoped-for support in BVB’s defence. Maybe there were sporting reasons why the Bayern bosses didn’t show the defender the appreciation he wanted.

You have to give Kehl credit: On paper, the transfers before the season actually looked good, it was not necessarily to be expected that things would rumble so much at this point in the season.

What was particularly surprising about the game at Union was how inferior the Dortmund team was to the Berliners. Fortunately for Dortmund, the score does not reflect this lack of quality so clearly. That can be an opportunity for the Dortmund squad planner. And a wake up call. It would be best to make adjustments in the upcoming winter transfer window.

BVB: The upcoming games of Borussia Dortmund