3 Possible Replacements When Borussia Dortmund Eventually Sell Ilkay Gundogan

Ilkay Gundogan's impressive season for Borussia Dortmund has sounded the bell for months of transfer speculation that will link the midfielder with every big club in Europe. While it's a testament to the talent and class of the 25-year-old, Dortmund supporters could do without the drama surrounding the Black and Yellows' No. 8.

In November, reports have linked the Germany international with Liverpool and Barcelona, per Luke Gardener of the Daily Star, and Juventus, per Antonino Milone of Italian outlet Tuttosport.

While Gundogan himself stated he's open to the idea of extending his contract with Dortmund in a recent interview with German TV station Sport1, the club's decision-makers will undoubtedly have some contingency plans in mind.

The midfielder's contract is set to expire in 2017 and, as Bleacher Report's Gianni Verschueren noted, "he could become one of the most wanted players on the market during the summer if he impresses at UEFA Euro 2016."

With that in mind, here are three possible replacements for Gundogan.

Marc Stendera, Eintracht Frankfurt

At just 19 years of age—something onlookers wouldn't believe because of his mature displays on the pitch and his impressive beard—signing Marc Stendera would be reminiscent of when Dortmund brought then-20-year-old Gundogan into fold in 2011. 

Oliver Kremer at Pixolli Studios/Getty Images

Playing all over the Hessians' midfield, Stendera will ultimately settle down in a central role much like Gundogan's at Dortmund. Bleacher Report's Allan Jiang characterised him in April: "When the German is not zipping past opposing players and launching ambitious shots, he is expeditious in winning back the ball." 

Despite his undeniable effort in defence, he needs to become more athletic, as Florian Bogner noted for Eurosport.

Valued at just €6 million by Transfermarkt and with his contract running until 2017, the current Germany under-21 international is a very realistic target for Dortmund.

Youri Tielemans, Anderlecht

Geert Vanden Wijngaert/Associated Press

A much less realistic option is 18-year-old Belgian prodigy Youri Tielemans. Hailed as a future world-class player, Anderlecht's midfielder would come at a hefty price; Transfermarkt values him at just €12 million, but with the expected bidding war for the services of the talented Tielemans, chances are Dortmund would need to invest close to the entire fee they would receive for Gundogan.

FourFourTwo's Jon Radcliffe said his "technique and speed, as well as his ability to pick out a killer pass" are his biggest strengths. Tielemans is—in short—the prototypical box-to-box midfielder of the modern game. A nominee for Tuttosport's Golden Boy award, via the Guardian's Ed Aarons, signing the 18-year-old would be quite the coup for Dortmund. 

Ki Sung-yueng, Swansea City

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If Dortmund want to replace Gundogan with a player closely resembling his playing style, they ought to look at Swansea City midfield maestro Ki Sung-yueng. The central midfielder, captain of South Korea, has been tipped to make a permanent move away from Wales for some time now. While players rarely leave the Premier League for the Bundesliga, Dortmund could entice Ki with Champions League football. 

ESPN FC's John Duerden noted "Ki was rightly lauded for his composure in possession, even in the tightest corners, a keen eye for a pass and a seeming inability to give the ball away" before he started scoring goals for the Swans last season. He has yet to find the net in this campaign, but—much like Gundogan—he wouldn't be asked to be one of the primary sources of goals for the Black and Yellows. 

Ki is an excellent fit for head coach Thomas Tuchel's possession-oriented playing style. Completing 91.5 per cent of his passes this season, according to WhoScored.com, the 26-year-old would feel right at home at the Signal Iduna Park, where Gundogan completes just under 90 per cent of his attempted passes. 

Valued at €10 million by Transfermarkt, Ki is ready for the next step. While Dortmund surely wouldn't be his only suitors, the allure of a regular spot in the starting XI of a Champions League club might prove too hard to resist for Ki.

Lars is a featured columnist writing on Borussia Dortmund. He also writes for Yellowwallpod.com. You can follow him on Twitter.