3 Players Who Could Replace Mats Hummels at Borussia Dortmund Next Season

When Borussia Dortmund announced on April 28 that centre-back Mats Hummels had officially requested a transfer to Bayern Munich in the summer, it sent shock waves through the club and its fanbase. The 27-year-old is more than just a world-class central defender; he's the undisputed leader and face of the Black and Yellows.

There might be a slim chance the 2014 FIFA World Cup winner has a change of heart and decides to stay at Dortmund after all, with Suddeutsche Zeitung's BVB insider Freddie Rockenhaus (link in German) reporting on Sunday that a few players believe Hummels will reconsider his decision.

Seeing as Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was optimistic the two clubs would find an agreement in an interview with German broadcaster Sky after Saturday's 1-1 draw against Borussia Monchengladbach, however, it seems likely Hummels will indeed return to Bavaria after eight-and-a-half years at the Westfalenstadion.

Here, Bleacher Report presents three players the Black and Yellows could look at as replacements for the 27-year-old.

Omer Toprak

Bayer Leverkusen's Omer Toprak has been linked with Dortmund ever since rumours started to make the rounds that Hummels could be on his way out. Sport magazine Kicker and Rockenhaus (links in German) have claimed that Toprak would be the Black and Yellows' first choice.

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The Turkey international would be an interesting choice. Turning 27 in July, he has vast experience at the top level with Leverkusen, having appeared in 165 Bundesliga matches for the Rhinelanders and his boyhood club Freiburg while also making 31 appearances in UEFA competitions and winning 23 caps for Turkey.

Spielverlagerung.de's Constantin Eckner (link in German) lauded Toprak's positioning and intelligence on the field, which—along with his leadership qualities—make him an intriguing option.

One negative is his injury proneness. He's never made it through a full season without missing a number of games. This campaign alone, he's missed 24 competitive matches with a tendon rupture and various muscle problems. His price could be an issue as well: Seeing as Leverkusen have already clinched a spot in next year's UEFA Champions League, they won't have to let Toprak go on the cheap.

Niklas Sule

Another player who's already been linked with the Black and Yellows, Hoffenheim's Niklas Sule would be an investment in the future. Joachim Klaehn of local paper Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung (link in German) reported at the weekend that the Germany under-21 international could see himself playing for Dortmund next season.

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As far as 20-year-olds go, Sule is already experienced, with 74 Bundesliga matches under his belt. That number is even more impressive considering he missed the entire second half of the 2014/15 season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Since his return from that devastating knee injury, Sule hasn't missed a single minute of football.

That fact indicates a maturity beyond his years that's also reflected in the way he defends. He's rarely flustered and doesn't commit to rash challenges, going into the referee's book just seven times in his Bundesliga career to this point.

More athletic than Hummels, the 195-centimeter man has vast untapped potential. He might not be able to replace Hummels right away, but he could become one of Europe's most dominant centre-backs under the tutelage of head coach Thomas Tuchel.

Matthias Ginter

It's easy to forget at times, but Matthias Ginter was widely considered Hummels' heir apparent when he came to Dortmund in the summer of 2014. The then-20-year-old showed great promise at Freiburg, and it was considered quite the coup when the Black and Yellows won his signature.

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However, things haven't worked out for him at the Westfalenstadion to this point. He's played an important role under Tuchel this season, but not at his natural position in the heart of defence. He's started just three games at that spot across competitions.

Ginter performed well at centre-back against Stuttgart but didn't even make the bench against Wolfsburg at the weekend after the Hummels announcement. Therefore, it seems unlikely that Ginter will get an extended run at centre-back in the final weeks of the current campaign.

Relying on a big jump from Ginter would be a risky proposition for Dortmund, but stranger things have happened than a talented player suddenly clicking when given an opportunity.

All performance data via Transfermarkt.co.uk

Lars Pollmann is a Featured Columnist writing on Borussia Dortmund. He also writes for YellowWallPod.com. You can follow him on Twitter.