5 Potential Replacements at Borussia Dortmund for Mats Hummels

Borussia Dortmund face a truly gruelling summer of reinvention ahead of next season, as new manager Thomas Tuchel takes over the reins from Jurgen Klopp and sets about turning the team back into title challengers.

The biggest and potentially most vital situations the incoming manager will have to handle are the sales of some of Dortmund’s biggest stars. Perhaps the most notable example of this is Mats Hummels, who looks almost certain to leave the Westfalenstadion this summer.

The English press recently confirmed that Manchester United had labelled the central defender as a target this summer, reported by the Daily Star on April 17, so Tuchel may be forced into signing a replacement during the offseason.

Here are five potential replacements for the Germany international should he make a move this summer.

Matthias Ginter

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Before we begin digging into the deepest, darkest corners of the transfer market, we would do well to acknowledge that Dortmund already have an exciting, young central defender in their ranks.

Although Matthias Ginter didn't exactly kick off his Dortmund career with any degree of composure, he has quietly settled in at the Westfalenstadion and now looks like a valuable member of the squad.

Entrusting him to take over from Hummels may be seen as a risk, but the 21-year-old is one for the future and should really be the next in line should any other key defenders leave this summer.

Alvaro Dominguez

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If Dortmund were to go hunting for a replacement in the transfer market, then they could do much worse than Alvaro Dominguez of Borussia Monchengladbach.

The Spanish defender has proved himself as a more than competent alternative in Lucien Favre's back line and certainly shares a number of skills with Hummels.

When not playing as a central defender Dominguez is found at left-back, showing just how confident he is on the ball—a trait Dortmund will certainly need in their own defence if Hummels leaves.

Niklas Sule

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The next player on our list is a young man of whom Dortmund fans will be well aware, considering his 40-yard screamer against them in the dying moments of last season’s Bundesliga campaign.

Yet Niklas Sule of Hoffenheim offers so much more than that. He’s one of the Germany’s brightest young central defenders.

Although still only 19 years of age, Sule has came into Markus Gisdol’s team and made a position on the Hoffenheim back line his own. Signing for a team the size of Dortmund may not be something that happens immediately, but it does seem inevitable.

Stefan Bell

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Now that Tuchel has been confirmed as the next Dortmund manager, one player he may be tempted to pick up for his defence—regardless of Hummels is sold—could be Stefan Bell of Mainz.

The 23-year-old central defender has been the first name on the teamsheet at the Carnival Club for the past few seasons and has quietly turned into a solid Bundesliga defender.

Perhaps not the first name on any Dortmund fan’s wish list but certainly one that Tuchel could get the best out of.

Fabian Schar

Lee Jin-man/Associated Press

Last but certainly not least we have FC Basel central defender Fabian Schar, who is perhaps the perfect example of a replacement for Hummels.

The Switzerland international has been playing for his current club since the age of 20 and become one of the best defenders in the Swiss Super League—a regular shopping destination for some of the Bundesliga’s more cunning sides.

Schar has everything Tuchel would want in a central defender: speed, aerial strength and, perhaps most importantly, passing ability.