Could a defensive crisis be about to descend on Borussia Dortmund?

Are Borussia Dortmund at risk of suffering a mid-season defensive crisis, with a number of high-profile defenders being linked with a move away from the club?

Central defenders Nico Schlotterbeck and Niklas Süle are being heavily reported to be leaving Signal Iduna Park throughout the January transfer window.

Defensive losses could prove Dortmund’s downfall

This would surely not only cause chaos in the dressing room for manager Niko Kovač, but also everyone associated with the club. Especially considering BVB are still actively searching for silverware on both domestic and European fronts across the 2025/26 campaign.

If both Schlotterbeck and/or Süle were to depart this month, without any reinforcements being brought in, it would leave Kovač with only Waldemar Anton, Aarón Anselmino, Ramy Bensebaini, and Emre Can.

However, what makes that worrying reading is that Anselmino is on loan from Chelsea and could be recalled any time and Can is a central midfielder by trade, not a centre-back. Secondly, more alarmingly, Dortmund’s customary formation under Kovač is 3-4-2-1.

Niklas Süle

Out of contract in the summer, and currently, there are no signs of the Signal Iduna Park upper echelons looking to offer him an extension to his current deal.

That could easily translate to Dortmund being potentially open to negotiating with other clubs for a fee in January, instead of losing him for free in the summer.

A reported market valuation of only £5million, could be too good for supposedly his main followers, AC Milan and Juventus, not to act on.

His aerial ability not only makes him one of the most lucrative players available on a potential free transfer in the summer. But also a difficult defender to come up against, not only in the air, but also on the ground.

However, what might put potential suitors off Süle’s signature in January might be that he has only played five matches across all competitions this season due to injury.

Firstly, a muscle injury forced the German to miss the first four games of the current Bundesliga campaign, before a toe injury ruled him out for another five matches.

However, he has recently returned with an astutely defensive 90-minute display in the 2-0 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach in mid-December.

That victory saw Süle accompany Schlotterbeck and Can in Kovač’s three-man defence, with the only other defender on the bench being Filippo Mané. It’s worth noting that Ramy Bensebaini, another defensive option, is currently on international duty with Algeria at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Incidentally, Dortmund captured Süle on a free transfer from Bayern Munich in July 2022, but could be out to lose him on a free transfer in the summer.

Nico Schlotterbeck

If an injury-free Süle does depart in January, Schlotterbeck’s departure might make Dortmund supporters physically sick. Schlotterbeck actually only featured in 23 matches in the Bundesliga last season, which might make some think he is set for a new challenge.

However, it was actually a one-match suspension courtesy of an accumulation of yellow cards and a six-game meniscus tear that saw him miss the final seven matches of the season.

Including those appearances in the 2024/25 campaign, he played over 140 matches for the club across all competitions. Notably, he hasn’t lifted any silverware as the club captain.

Could that be a thought flowing around in Schlotterbeck’s mind? Could the allure of potentially joining European footballing heavyweights Bayern Munich or Barcelona be enough for Schlotterbeck to tell Dortmund he is now looking for a new challenge?

If the challenge is accepted by all the parties involved in the transaction, it will more than likely be more than the defender’s market value of close to £48million.

Dortmund’s end-of-season expectations

It appears questionable if Dortmund can catch Bayern Munich, who are already nine points clear at the summit of the Bundesliga standings. Kovač’s men can still lift a second Champions League trophy.

In 10th position in the 2025/26 standings, Die Schwarzgelben are a point behind Atlético Madrid, who occupy the concluding automatic progression position to the Round of 16.

Dortmund’s remaining league phase matches against Tottenham Hotspur and last year’s defeated finalists Inter Milan will ultimately determine if they are forced to participate in potentially two unnecessary play-off matches.