What Is Dortmund's Plan for the #6?

25/04/2024 19:17

BVB could enter the market for a defensive midfielder; what does that mean for the squad?

Heavy is the head that wears the crown.

For Emre Can, the crown is more of an armband, but that has little effect on the weight. Since joining Borussia Dortmund from Juventus in 2020, Can has cut an uneven figure in Black and Yellow. After a red hot start to his career in Dortmund, Can has struggled for consistency over a four year spell. For long stretches, Can was Dortmund's utility man, filling in at defensive midfield, center-back, and even right-back as injuries ravaged the squad. FTW's Sarah Sekac even dubbed Can the "Can-dy Man" for his ability to shuffle around the field and still turn in performances. Now, Can has been granted an uninterrupted run at defensive midfield, but the candy has turned sour, as have the opinions of the BVB faithful.

Donning the captain's armband at the end of the 2023/24 season seemingly did not help Emre's case. The German was coming off of a hallmark Rückrunde where he commanded the midfield, turning Dortmund into a force that dominated the Bundesliga. As captain, Can has struggled to produce the same level on a regular basis, and with Dortmund's new-look boardroom ready to splash some cash, defensive midfield may be in their sights for a summer transfer.

Moving for a new DM is not all that simple for BVB—it's not just the captain they have to contend with. Dortmund's Turkish enforcer, Salih Özcan, also seems reluctant to depart the club, having only run down two years of his contract. Emre Can extended his contract last summer until June of 2026, and Salih's runs to the same date. How will Dortmund realistically add another player to the depth charts?

One obstacle to all of this will most certainly be Edin Terzic. Terzic has always held Can in high regard, rewarding him with a place in the starting lineup despite his uneven performances. It was Terzic who helped Can perform at the highest level, after all, so his faith in the German is not without foundation. The appointment of Sven Mislintat to the boardroom, however, is a clear indication that Terzic's role in squad planning is due for some minimization. With Kehl retained and Mislintat on the hunt for talent, one would expect there to be too many voices in the boardroom for Terzic to do much interjecting like he did last season. There absolutely is a role for the coach in squad decisions, but it seems Terzic has been crowded out of the conversation.

So we have established that Dortmund could use a long-term solution at the #6, and that there are two players already in line for that role. So what do you do? The top clubs replace them anyway; that's the name of the game. When Real Madrid signed Jude Bellingham to a midfield that already contained some of the world's finest midfielders, Jude adjusted, and the squad adjusted. That's what needs to happen in Dortmund as well.

If Salih Özcan and Emre Can are not interested in finding new clubs, they will need to accept greater competition in the squad or find another solution. As second choice, Salih Özcan would likely be deterred by the signing of another DM, and may change his stance on a departure, which would help Dortmund raise funds. Özcan should be worth north of 10 million in the open market, which is no small chunk of change. It would be wise for Dortmund to push this solution as well, since Özcan has better market value than Can. For Can, the options are a little trickier. As captain, Can would expect to be on the pitch. What Terzic and Can could investigate is a more permanent move to center-back. While I'm certainly not advocating for it, this would alleviate congestion in the #6, and if Mats Hummels does retire, provide the third center-back Dortmund would need to go hunting for in the market. While Can has never raved about playing in the defense, he has never complained, and if he hopes to retain his position in the starting eleven, sometimes flexibility is required. Eduardo Camavinga may not like playing left-back for Real Madrid, but he is still playing for Real Madrid.

Beneath my senseless ramblings here, you will find no concrete solution to the #6 position. Dortmund could opt to take the money elsewhere, because Emre Can and Salih Özcan are fine enough options, which is true. But BVB's inability to dominate the midfield this season and establish successful ball progression suggests that a change is necessary, and the board seems willing to make it. What Emre Can and Salih Özcan do about that change is in their own hands, but the board should not hesitate to add a player to the squad if a player is identified who will raise the level of the team.