Where Does Manchester United Starlet Adnan Januzaj Fit in at Borussia Dortmund?

Borussia Dortmund had a relatively impressive summer transfer window this year. Yet among the star players who stayed put at the Westfalenstadion, there was one arrival that surprised us all.

Among the predicted, almost calculated transfers that joined and left the former German champions in August, no deal seemed quite as odd as that of Adnan Januzaj joining on loan from Manchester United.

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Thomas Tuchel may have done well to keep this deal quiet over the course of the summer months, but fans have been left with one and only question: Just where does the Belgium international fit into this side?

The obvious answer to such a query is simply this: wherever Kevin Grosskreutz, Kevin Kampl and Jakub Blaszczykowski used to reside in Dortmund’s squad.

As part of his summer clean, Tuchel made short work of the extra fat in his squad, and as such, fans were forced to bid farewell to some familiar faces. In their place has stepped the young, talented loanee.

Despite the buzz that seems to follow Januzaj—and, indeed, any Man United player these days—it doesn’t seem likely that the 20-year-old will be making a move to the top of Tuchel’s priorities anytime soon.

On the right-side of Dortmund’s attack, the manager has Henrikh Mkhitaryan, first and foremost, along with Jonas Hofmann and arguably Gonzalo Castro. On the left, he has the undisputed star of this team in Marco Reus.

Such a lineup is indeed the sole reason behind the confusion around Januzaj’s arrival at the club. Dortmund may have sold three wingers in the past week, but they still have plenty more who’ll fancy their chances ahead of the young Belgian talent.

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Similarly, when we look inside to the centre of the park, certain positions continue to offer very little solace to Januzaj’s future prospects at the Westfalenstadion.

In the No. 10 role, it seems as though Shinji Kagawa—who already has four goals and three assists in seven games, according to Transfermarkt—is Tuchel’s favoured choice just behind the striker. The only genuine alternative to the Japanese star would be Ilkay Gundogan, who may be pushed further up the field when central midfielder Nuri Sahin returns from injury.

If Januzaj wishes to develop his game this season playing as a No. 10, then he’ll have some fight on his hands. Dortmund don’t really need another central attacking midfielder now that Kagawa has returned to form.

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Last season, the Belgium international made 18 Premier League appearances for Louis van Gaal’s side. He played predominantly on the left and right wings, as he had done quite well under David Moyes the season before, yet earlier this season, we’ve seen him play as a standard No. 10.

In truth, it doesn’t seem as though Man United, Januzaj himself or indeed Dortmund are entirely sure what role best suits the young player. Instead, Tuchel will most likely hope to play him as a reserve for all three positions behind the striker.

Whether the 20-year-old starlet is aware of it, the coming season will be one in which he spends much of his time on the bench, looking to to make an impact as a substitute.