The new Bundesliga season is now well underway, which means Borussia Dortmund must have a new striker. Spanish forward Paco Alcácer is the team’s newest addition, with the 25-year-old joining on loan from Barcelona. This is a great opportunity for Alcácer to play regular football and become a key man for his new team.
Paco Alcácer Can Be Key For Borussia Dortmund
A Smart Addition
Having a quality striker is invaluable, especially in today’s Bundesliga. German football is crying out for someone to challenge Bayern Munich. Borussia Dortmund can be that team. Lucien Favre’s team is currently in a great place going forward. A new look, younger midfield and plenty of attacking options, this team has made significant progress. A potential key man for Favre’s new look team is Paco Alcácer. Moving to the Bundesliga for regular football, Alcácer is a solid option going forward. A proven goal scorer in Spain, the former Valencia man gives Dortmund something they were lacking, a true number nine option.
Alcácer is a player Dortmund will look to rely on this season both in the Bundesliga and in Europe. Favre now has several options and a flexible squad as Dortmund look to better last season’s fourth-place finish.
Big Shoes to Fill
Heading into last season, Dortmund’s striking options were headlined by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Gabonese striker was a fan favourite until he forced his way out of the club. With Aubameyang on his way to Arsenal, the club looked for a quality short-term replacement. That replacement was Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi. The Belgian striker joined on loan in January and left his mark on the Bundesliga. Scoring seven goals in 10 games, Batshuayi became a key man in the short time he was with the team.
Alcácer can do the same. The Spaniard can leave his mark on the fans and the league if he plays well enough. It’s unlikely Alcácer has a future with Barcelona, meaning a permanent move is on the cards. That in itself should motivate Alcácer this season. There is a lot to like about this move. Alcácer has only just turned 25, he has all the traits of a goal poacher and with this only being a loan move, Dortmund only spent 2 million euros on the season-long loan.
Competition
In the season opener against RB Leipzig, manager Lucien Favre started Maximilian Philipp up front. The German isn’t a natural striker, with Favre deploying him more as a false nine against Leipzig. Phillip plays his role well, fitting into Favre’s system nicely. This could make him a more attractive option than Alcácer at times.
This is a great problem for Favre to have, with two capable forwards to chose from. If Philipp keeps his place in the team, Alcácer is a great goalscoring option off the bench. These two players make Dortmund a legitimate threat going forward. The likes of Marco Reus and Christian Pulisic already cause teams problems, the addition of Alcácer could be the difference between Champions League football and title contention.
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