Depending on price I would have my concerns about signing what constitutes at the moment as a one season wonder.

With all due respect to Benteke is a very good player I would think that Dortmund would be searching for a player in the bracket above

Neo, perhaps. Unless they are buying for potential.

Will be interesting to see if Dortmund flex some financial muscle and send out a signal of intent.

Selling off their best players every season does not bode well for the perception of the team.

Benteke had nothing to prove this season. But, he has everything to prove next season. That is why it is best he stays put and proves himself.

All this talk of him going to Arsenal, Dortmund, even Atheltico Madrid etc,,, is pretty much rubbish. As mentioned these clubs would spend 10-15 Million on much more proven players. Plus, Villa have put his transfer price pretty high.

With all due respect to Benteke is a very good player I would think that Dortmund would be searching for a player in the bracket above

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I am not sure they would. That is not their model.

In fact, buying Benteke wouldn't even be their model. They don't tend to spend big money. Buying Benteke from Genk would have made sense as a Dortmund signing, but not from England for £20m plus.

They will probably sign some relative unknown to replace Lewandowski.

We should stick to signing players below 15m like Arsenal

Jonjo's Barber (U16191)

righteous, or they'll sign the next best thing in Germany - their other model.

Yes Darren.

That is far more likely than them buying Benteke for huge dosh. Lets face it there is not exactly a shortage of talent in Germany at the moment.

Reus was part of dortmunds youth set up they had to pay 15m release clause to get him back. TSG hoffenheim refused to pay 2m for Gotze aged 17/18 (yes they actually was willing to get rid) and went and bought Babel for 8m. Most people don't know the full stories its not as ideal as you may think.

I knew about Reus but didn't know about Gotze!

I do think Dortmund could do with making a big money signing.

I don't think it conveys the right message to their players and the other teams around Europe if they continue to replace their players with unknowns.

I am of the belief that their system and manager is as important as the players. But surely there's only so long before the standard of play drops due to losing the best players?

Look at Arsenal. By signing a big player (who being the question) it shows everyone that they are here to stay and will not bow down to teams poaching their players.

The players will be less likely to leave and teams will be less likely to push for transfers for their players knowing they won't sell.

It's what Arsenal should have done but finances stipulated otherwise. I don't think Dortmund have the same financial problems.

Now is the time to establish themselves as a top side rather than being a flash in the pan.

Now is the time to establish themselves as a top side rather than being a flash in the pan.
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I know what you mean, but that means changing their whole wage structure. What if it didn't work? What if they started paying their players much more money (as they would have to do if they signed big money foreigners), but still got worse?

Wages is the reason why I feel we still might have a chance of signing Eriksen (if we are really interested). Dortmund do not pay high wages, and won't offer Eriksen high wages. I am sure we will offer him more money than they can.

Its easy to say 'we don't want players coming here for money', as some do, but the vast majority move for money, so you are saying no to a hell of a lot of players if you follow that line.

That is a problem for them.

They're in a great position to establish themselves as one of Europe's elite.

If they don't start offering the wages that top players demand they'll sadly fall away, in my opinion.

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I'd rather sign Lukaku

buying benteke for anything more than £15million is a risk that we simply cannot afford to make. we've done it in the past spending £35m on carroll and its not worked. 1 good season doesn't make you a great player.

Dortmund were very close to going bust not that long ago, 7 years ago, I think. I highly doubt they'd break the wage structure and if they were going to it'd be for a player much better than Benteke, with all due respect.

Unfortunately, they will become a victim of modern football and fall into the ever expanding gap between the good clubs and the "super clubs". They'll be a slightly better version of what Arsenal used to be before they got the last of their good players poached

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