Should Borussia Dortmund Stick or Twist with Mats Hummels?
Borussia Dortmund captain Mats Hummels could well be at a crossroads at the conclusion of the 2015/16 season. At the age of 27, the Germany international should be in his prime and—Dortmund supporters might not want to hear this—a player of his caliber probably shouldn't spend his prime at a club like Dortmund.
That says more about the player's quality than the club's, however, or, rather, about his potential. As Constantin Eckner wrote for Yellowwallpod.com: "There was a time when he was undeniably one of the best defenders in the whole wide world."
That time has passed, though. Since the 2014 FIFA World Cup, at which he was the only defender shortlisted for the Golden Ball award, per FIFA.com, Dortmund's No. 15 has struggled for form.
Hummels' inconsistency opens up an interesting debate: Should Dortmund stick with him and hope head coach Thomas Tuchel can get him back to his best, or should they let him go?
On the surface, that looks like an easy question to answer. Despite his struggles in recent times, the 27-year-old is one of the most sought-after centre-backs in the world. He's the club captain and one of the biggest names Dortmund can offer their fans.
Extending his contract, which is set to expire in 2017, is a no-brainer, and most fans will hope his signature on a new deal will put an end to the constant rumours linking him with every big club in Europe.
A deeper look at Hummels' performances, however, reveals why the Black and Yellows might entertain the thought of letting him go.
He's been the leader of Dortmund's defence for years, in good times and bad. He was one of the major reasons why the club won two Bundesliga championships and a DFB-Pokal between 2011 and 2012. He was also one of the major reasons why the club has conceded far too many goals to win anything in more recent times.
As Dustin Ward noted for StatsBomb, the club's defence will shape Dortmund's hopes for silverware in the coming years: "Can they fix the defensive missteps that have led to 65 goals allowed over the past 51 games? This is the big step they need to make to build momentum for next years title challenge against Ancelotti’s Bayern."
If Hummels continues on the level he closed 2015 out with, he could be a big help in Dortmund's quest for trophies. Ironically, though, that could also lead to his departure in the summer.
Big clubs would again come knocking—especially if he impresses for Germany at the European Championship in France in the same way he has at the last two international tournaments. Considering his age, Hummels might finally say yes to one of them.
Even if he signs a contract extension—and there's nothing that suggests he wouldn't—that wouldn't rule out a transfer in the summer.
In 2014, Hummels revealed to Transfermarkt (h/t Spox.com, via ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld) that he could've had a release clause in his current deal but decided against it: "When I extended my contract, I wanted to set an example. I couldn't be happier at any other club in the world right now. Should I make a move somewhere else, I would want that to be a fair deal for everyone."
It wouldn't be surprising if such a fair deal could come up in the summer, and Dortmund would have to decide whether they want to cash in on or keep Hummels. Considering his great contributions in the last eight years, one would have to think that if he really wanted to go, they'd let him.
Currently rated at €35 million by Transfermarkt, Dortmund could demand an immense fee for the skipper. According to that site, Manchester City paid €54 million to FC Porto for Eliaquim Mangala in 2014, making the Frenchman the most expensive centre-back of all time. That would be a logical ballpark figure for Hummels—especially if he signs a contract extension before the summer.
Could Dortmund really say no to that?
Lars Pollmann is a featured columnist writing on Borussia Dortmund. He also writes for Yellowwallpod.com. You can follow him on Twitter.
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