Why Haris Seferovic Is the Striker Borussia Dortmund Should Sign This Summer

Despite Borussia Dortmund’s bright start to the new season with a whole host of welcome results among their pre-season fixtures very little has actually been done in terms of signing new players.

Rather than dive in to the transfer market, new manager Thomas Tuchel has instead opted to work with what he’s got, with just Gonzalo Castro, Roman Burki and Julian Weigl coming in since the end of the previous campaign.

Yet that doesn’t mean Dortmund haven’t continued making money off some of their talented players. Mitch Langerak, Milos Jojic and Ciro Immobile have opted to leave the club in one form or another. With the latter of which undoubtedly needing to be replaced.

Although the squad is perfectly well placed in terms of goalscorers in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang—who picked up no less than 25 goals in 46 games, according to Transfermarkt—there is a growing concern with regards to the cover on offer should the Gabon international pick up an injury

Added to that we have the prospect of Tuchel doubling up the chances of mischief through the manner in which he has at times opted to play two strikers in a number of pre-season friendlies this summer.

Here we’ve seen Marco Reus join Aubameyang up front, leaving just Adrian Ramos on the bench as an alternative to the two goalscorers. Perhaps a viable option from one game to the next but a tactic that leaves his side wide open over the course of a season.

Whichever way we look at Dortmund’s current situation it's clear for all to see the squad simply cannot continue with just three strikers.

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

This is why Tuchel should dive back in to the transfer market and do his very best to bring in another forward to bolster his squad. A forward like Eintracht Frankfurt’s Haris Seferovic.

What makes the 23-year-old goalscorer so appealing to a side like Dortmund is the manner in which he plays his football. Unlike Immobile, who tended to play as a poacher in the box, the Swiss international enjoys roaming left, right and through the middle when he isn’t stuck playing up front.

Although this may seem like a rather vague attribute for a modern striker, it’s one that is absolutely vital for a player to thrive at Dortmund under Tuchel. Reus can play on the left and Aubameyang on the right—it’s what makes them so appealing and useful to the side.

Alternatively, Ramos offers very little but a target in the box and in turn has struggled to really make any impression since arriving at the Westfalenstadion. Tuchel needs a player that can play across his constantly evolving front line and Seferovic is certainly a player who can offer that.

Another string to the young forward’s bow is the very simple fact that he’s already proven his worth in the very league that Dortmund play their football. Last season Seferovic bagged 11 goals and eight assists in just 34 games for the Eagles, according to Tranfermarkt. Included in this total were important goals and assists against the likes of Bayer Leverkusen, Gladbach and indeed Dortmund.

Despite arriving from Spain just a year ago this striker has taken no time at all to not only prove he’s good enough for the German top division but also has no qualms showing up for the big games and putting such sides to the sword.

Finally, it’s worth noting just how well Seferovic would fit in to the hierarchy of strikers at Dortmund. Unlike Immobile or indeed Ramos, who have rarely wasted an opportunity to complain about sitting on the bench, Seferovic could quite easily slot in behind Aubameyang and take his turn as the Gabon striker’s understudy for the time being.

A young talent who could not only offer an alternative when needed but also an exciting prospect for the Dortmund faithful. Tuchel’s side is full of such players and certainly could use one more up front.

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