Can Borussia Dortmund replace Aubameyang this summer?
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was on hand to rescue Borussia Dortmund’s season, with a perfectly placed Panenka penalty securing the DFB Pokal for his club. With two goals in the first 30 minutes of play, the cup final was heading for extra-time until the Gabon international stepped up.
It was a disappointing result for an Eintracht Frankfurt side that had beaten FC Ingolstadt, Hannover 96 and Borussia Moenchengladbach on their way to the final. Niko Kovac’s side put up a good fight throughout. Yet, the victory was well deserved for a Dortmund side that had previously reached the DFB Pokal final on three consecutive years and missed out on the cup every time.
The club did well to come away with a trophy this season, given the disastrous form that they displayed during the early stages of the campaign. That was largely the result of a number of key losses throughout the summer, when Mats Hummels, Ilkay Gundogan and Henrikh Mkhitaryan all departed the club. However, their problems are likely to intensify this summer, with star man Aubameyang set to leave.
The goalscorer has reportedly handed in a transfer request, confirming speculation that he would be looking to force a move away from Dortmund at the end of the campaign. Aubameyang’s 40 goals will be sorely missed next season. Yet, with the club demanding £85 million for their man, there will be plenty of money available to bring in a replacement.
Alexandre Lacazette is thought to be at the top of their list. With 37 goals in 45 appearances for Ligue 1 side Lyon this season, Lacazette would certainly do the job. Yet, with interest also coming from La Liga side Atletico Madrid, they will have a tough time convincing their man to choose them.
Inaki Williams has also been mentioned and certainly fits the profile of the kind of players that Dortmund tend to go for. He has bags of potential, but little experience, as did Aubameyang and Robert Lewandowski upon joining the club.
Ajax’s Kasper Dolberg is a similar target. The youngster has had a fantastic season in the Eredivisie and is surely destined to become a star. Yet, with a squad in serious decline and fans that demand success, Borussia Dortmund no longer have the time to wait around for young players to reach their potential.
The club needs a striker of Aubameyang’s quality if they want to start challenging Bayern Munich for the Bundesliga title again. Yet, with very few options available, the chances of bringing in a like-for-like replacement this summer are slim.
Regardless, as their DFB Pokal victory showed us this season, even when times are tough, Dortmund find a way to get through it. Aubameyang’s exit will hurt the club, but it isn’t the end of the world.
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