Borussia Dortmund are expected to lose Jude Bellingham this summer transfer window. Real Madrid are reportedly close to signing him. Not only is Bellingham already one of the world’s best midfielders at the age of 19, but he is also arguably the only midfielder capable of starting for a team with Bundesliga title aspirations.
Die Schwarzgelben will need to replace him with at least one midfielder in their never-ending effort to beat Bayern München at the top of the German league. Nobody can replace Bellingham one-for-one, but there are several compelling options around European football – and the Bundesliga – for Dortmund to target this summer.
Enzo Le Fée, Lorient
Nobody stands out more than Enzo Le Fée. The Lorient youngster has the eye of so many clubs around European football, and, honestly, he should be getting even more transfer interest on the rumor mill than he is already.
After Lorient held off on shipping him to Bournemouth like star winger Dango Outtara in the winter, Le Fée is ready to make his big move in the upcoming summer market.
Lionel Messi will surely win the award for being Ligue 1’s best player this season, and Lyon’s Alexander Lacazette must also be on that shortlist. However, Le Fée may have an even stronger case than both of them when looking at his overall impact. Alas, he is a midfielder and does not have the name recognition as those two – least of all Lionel.
Le Fée has five goals, five assists, 2.1 key passes per game, 1.9 dribbles completed per match, 1.9 fouls drawn per contest, 55 passes per game, and a combined 4.3 tackles and interceptions per match. Those are legitimately world-class numbers, ranking Le Fée right there with any midfielder in Europe this season.
Dortmund need a midfielder like him to anchor their team and add that kind of all-around ability, given how much Jude Bellingham has offered them in all phases in the middle of the park. BVB just have to hope a club with more money doesn’t push to sign him.
Manu Koné, Borussia Mönchengladbach
Within the Bundesliga, Dortmund could go after yet another top player from Borussia Mönchengladbach, though big clubs in the Premier League like Manchester United are already well-aware of the kind of talent Manu Koné possesses.
Koné first burst onto the scene in the 2021/22 season for Gladbach, standing out as a future star at the position. He has quickly matured into one of the Bundesliga’s best and would even be an upgrade as a starter for Bayern München.
With his defensive work, elite progression, and uncanny reading of the game for his age, Koné would be arguably the most ideal signing for Dortmund when considering current quality, cost, future upside, and Bundesliga experience. The 21-year-old has a combined 3.5 tackles and interceptions of his own, which would be huge for BVB.
Ellyes Skhiri, Köln
Dortmund already signed a Köln midfielder in Salih Özcan, but it’s becoming clear that they went for the wrong guy. Özcan simply does not have the quality to play for Borussia Dortmund, and he might not even be good enough for a rotational role, given his severe limitations with the ball at his feet.
There’s no guarantee Ellyes Skhiri wouldn’t flop either, but he was better than his teammate and has seemingly only gotten better in 2022/23 without him. Skhiri is one of the most underrated defensive midfielders in European football. The 27-year-old has a sensational 2.6 tackles and 1.9 interceptions per game for the Billy Goats this season, even adding six goals and a pass completion percentage close to 88.
Set to be a free agent, Shkiri would definitely be an economical signing and could be combined with a more attacking option. Dortmund, again, need multiple midfielders. That said, they seem to be happy with Emre Can in the defensive midfield – which actually shouldn’t be the case – so Skhiri may not be seen as a fit. Still, he is worth keeping in mind as a free agent.
Edson Álvarez, Ajax
Edson Álvarez will be a hot name on the transfer market soon, as many Ajax players are. The 25-year-old has scored three goals with three assists in the Eredivisie this season, averaging a combined 3.5 tackles and interceptions per season.
Multiple Bundesliga clubs, including Bayern, should be interested, and Álvarez may end up being the preferred option in the defensive midfield, even if Skhiri would be cheaper.
Naby Keïta, Liverpool
Naby Keïta is probably a player Dortmund should pass up on, because it is impossible to know if he will be able to play enough games to help the team. The former RB Leipzig man is a talented footballer, which is why he earned a move to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool and was even an important player for them to start his Premier League career.
Injuries and inconsistency have doomed Keïta’s career with the Reds, but a return to the Bundesliga could be exactly what the midfielder needs to get back on track. Keïta is a quality footballer, and while RB Leipzig makes the most sense for him, Dortmund could be an interesting landing spot for him in a freer, box-to-box role.
Khéphren Thuram, Nice
Khéphren Thuram will likely be priced out of Dortmund’s range, with Ligue 1 rivals PSG and clubs in the Premier League most likely ready to throw a bunch of money at the extremely talented young Frenchman. Out of all the players on this list, Thuram may be the most sure-fire to contribute at the top level, given his skill set.
The 22-year-old showed plenty of promise last season, but he has really broken through to become one of the best overall midfielders in Ligue 1 this season. For example, there is not a midfielder at PSG playing at a higher level than Thuram this season – not even long-time superstar Marco Verratti.
Thuram has two goals, four assists, 1.4 dribbles completed per match, 1.1 key passes per game, and 2.6. combined tackles and interceptions per contest in the 2022/23 Ligue 1 season.
Anton Stach, Mainz
To close the list, Anton Stach has been the most forcefully pushed player for Dortmund to sign this summer by many Black and Yellow fans. Mainz have overperformed in the Bundesliga again, and Stach has honestly been their best player, particularly when you look at how consistent he has been. Stach might legitimately be one of the best midfielders in the entire league right now.
Just 24 years old, Stach is only in his second season in the German top flight, having played for Greuther Fürth in the second league in 2020/21. After registering six assists last season for the 05ers, Stach has four this season, providing a creative impetus and a level of security on the ball while reading the game defensively as well as any midfielder in the Bundesliga.
Dortmund could use his intelligence, consistency, composure on the ball, and eye for the killer pass. His skill set and affordability make him an ideal transfer target for Dortmund this summer.
The managing editor of The Trivela Effect, Kevin has 15 years of experience in digital media. He covered Real Madrid from 2019-2022 for The Real Champs as a site manager. You can contact him at the site’s official Twitter handle @TrivelaEffect or via the site’s official email thetrivelaeffect@gmail.com.