According to Bild, as cited by FussballTransfers(FT), Borussia Dortmund are in advanced stages regarding the potential signing of Thomas Meunier and Jude Bellingham. Both the players only need to sign a contract with the Black and Yellows. Meunier will already be a free agent by the summer while Bellingham could cost around €30 million.
Thomas Meunier: An ideal replacement for Achraf Hakimi
Borussia Dortmund would definitely want to keep hold of Achraf Hakimi for as long as possible. But, with Real Madrid seemingly unwilling to settle for Alvaro Odriozola, Zinedine Zidane is likely to fancy the Moroccan next season. And that could create a massive void in the right-back department.
Lukasz Piszczek is an option. But, the Pole has predominantly featured as a centre-back this season, and at the age of 34, he shouldn’t be considered as a viable first-team option. And that’s where Meunier could come into the fray.
The PSG star has a wealth of experience at the highest level of football, especially in the UEFA Champions League. Tactically, his prudent nature could come in handy and add more solidity to the Dortmund backline.
However, it was Hakimi’s pace that made all the difference. And Meunier might not be able to provide that, meaning it won’t be a bad idea for Lucien Favre to look for other alternatives. A young gun like Max Aarons would be an ideal fit for Die Schwarzgelben.
Jude Bellingham: One for the future?
At the age of just 16, it is unrealistic to think that Bellingham would make a first-team impact at Dortmund next season. However, the youngster is undoubtedly a talented individual. And given the club’s positive record of allowing young players to perform at the highest level of football, Dortmund is indeed the right destination for the Birmingham City midfielder.
At the moment, the Black and Yellows have a strong midfield setup. Emre Can and Axel Witself have offered a lot of stability while Julian Brandt has transformed himself into an excellent false ten. Favre has other options too including Thomas Delaney and Mahmoud Dahoud, though the latter is facing an uncertain future at the club due to his lack of game-time.
Bellingham is mostly expected to play for Dortmund’s U-19 setup alongside another prodigy in Youssoufa Moukoko. It will be interesting to see how these two youngsters develop themselves within the coming years while the likes of Giovanni Reyna and Tobias Raschl could already enjoy a more prominent role in the first-team next season.
