Dortmund's fine summer activity already has fans pining for next season

The money Borussia Dortmund recouped in the sale of Christian Pulisic went to good use. The Bundesliga runners’ up wasted no time in strengthening their XI this summer, even if they cashed in on the American in January. To his credit, the winger ended his time in Germany strongly as he had a direct hand in his final three league outings with Dortmund, scoring two and assisting one. 

Now begins a new chapter for both player and club, with the latter investing the £58m brought in from his departure astutely. On Wednesday, Dortmund announced the signings of both Thorgan Hazard and Julian Brandt from Gladbach and Bayer Leverkusen, respectively. Bayern Munich are famed for hoovering up the Bundesliga’s best talent, but it’s Die Schwarzgelben who have made their moves to overhaul FC Hollywood as Germany’s best. 

Nico Schulz has also made the move to the Westfalenstadion, joining from Hoffenheim, as Dortmund aim to reclaim top spot, something they probably should have done this season given their flying start to the campaign. Nevertheless, in Schulz, Hazard and Brandt, Dortmund’s squad is significantly stronger and we aren’t out of May yet. 

Brandt made more key passes (86) than any other player in the Bundesliga this season, while Hazard (73) ranked fifth. In Schulz (61), four of the top nine players to rank high for chances created in the Bundesliga this season now play for Dortmund, with Jadon Sancho (64) making up the quintet. Needless to say, Dortmund have immense attacking power, not that they weren’t bereft of this strength. 

Indeed, only Bayern Munich (88) scored more league goals than Dortmund (81) in Germany’s top tier this term, while a total of 18 different players hit the back of the net for Lucien Favre’s side. In Sancho, they had one of only two players to register double figures for both goals (12) and assists (14), the latter of which was more than any other player in the Bundesliga. The other? New signing Hazard, who registered 10 apiece for both. 

With Brandt chipping in with 11 assists for Bayer Leverkusen, Dortmund now have three of the only five players to register double figures for assists in the Bundesliga this season, the other two being Joshua Kimmich (13) and Filip Kostic (10). In Schulz (5), only Dortmund duo Lukasz Piszczek and Raphael Guerreiro, Marcel Halsentberg and Valentino Lozaro (all 6) of RB Leipzig and Hertha Berlin, respectively, chipped in with more assists of Bundesliga defenders. 

Not only does Schulz’s arrival afford Favre greater tactical flexibility, but increased competition for starting spots. It remains to be seen whether Achraf Hakimi will remain in Germany next season or whether Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane wants him back in Spain, but Dortmund acted swiftly to ensure they aren’t caught short at left-back should the latter scenario come to fruition. 

What’s key, too, is that it allows for Favre to continue with Guerreiro in a more advanced left wing role safe in the knowledge he has a Bundesliga experienced left-back covering the Portuguese star. With Hazard’s arrival covering for the departure of Pulisic, Brandt’s arrival doesn’t necessarily complicate matters in the final third, but instead affords Favre an offensive flexibility that was found wanting on occasion last season. 

In 29 of their 34 league matches, Dortmund lined up in a 4-2-3-1 setup, with Thomas Delany and Axel Witsel the pivot to shield the defence, thus allowing the full-backs to push on and the attackers the freedom to do what they do best. With Brandt able to play any number of roles - the 23-year-old started in a total of nine different positions across the league and Europa League for Bayer Leverkusen, ranging from left-back, to central midfield, to right wing - Favre is able to more readily move away from the tried and tested 4-2-3-1 formation that perhaps hindered his side at times and add numbers to the midfield where required. 

Similarly, Hazard isn’t restricted to just one attacking role with the Belgium international able to play on the left or the right wing, which is a bonus to his game that was limited with Pulisic. The American may be the better ball carrier - 4.1 dribbles per 90 was one of the better returns in Germany’s top tier - but the 20-year-old’s best position came on the right. Granted, Pulisic is able to perform on the left, yet the versatility to Hazard’s game perhaps stands him in better stead. 

Either way, Dortmund have done some fine work in the market and the transfer window isn’t even officially open yet. Having finished just two points off Bayern this season, the arrivals of Schulz, Hazard and Brandt significantly bolsters Favre’s options in defence and attack and for a squad that netted in all but three of their 34 Bundesliga games this term, their firepower has been kicked up a notch. The campaign may have only just ended, but supporters will alreadt be looking to next season as a chance to see their new stars impress in their new surroundings.