Facundo Buonanotte: The versatile attacker Borussia Dortmund have been looking for?  | OneFootball

Nobody likes a lull in their club’s transfer business, especially when the club in question has quite a few gaps to fill for the coming season. That’s the situation Borussia Dortmund seems to find itself in; After going all in for Jobe Bellingham, the gears having seemingly come to a halt.

The rumour mill has linked the club with a plethora of players in recent weeks, with Ardon Jashari being sought after by head coach Niko Kovac, only to have the Swiss midfielder reportedly spurn the club for Milan. Johan Bakayoko was a topic of interest, but alas, not serious enough of an interest to stop his move to RB Leipzig from taking shape. James McAtee, who also had several Bundesliga clubs after him, has reportedly decided against a move to the Bundesliga in favour of staying in the Premier League. Ethan Nwaneri, who is reported to have been Dortmund’s top target this summer, is also set to sign a contract extension at Arsenal beyond 2026.

And so the specter of expectation still looms large over the club, with a feeling of restlessness draping this mounting expectation like a weighted cloak, compounding the outside anxiety surrounding the club. From comments made by the club’s hierarchy, it’s clear that they want to strengthen, but the lack of clear agency (at face value) doesn’t help appearances. The general idea is that the club wants a versatile attacker or two, but players have so far either not been serious topics, or simply out of reach.

This perception is a very fragile one however; one that can change very quickly should the club identify and pursue a player that directly fits their needs. The most recent name to possibly fit that mould is Facundo Buonanotte.

Buonanotte, who spent last season on loan at Leicester City, is a young Argentine attacking midfielder that is also capable of playing out wide, which is very much the versatile type of player that Dortmund need. The sale of Jamie Gittens to Chelsea and the imminent departure of Gio Reyna to Parma leaves a big void on two fronts, both on the wings as well as at the 10. The 20-year-old talent would certainly demand minutes if a move were to come to fruition, and considering his versatility, he’d certainly get those minutes in this Dortmund side.

Besides versatility, Buonanotte offers substantial threat at set pieces, is a very proficient dribbler and has a very solid passing range; aspects of his game that made him an important player for Leicester City this past season. The young Argentine chipped in with five goals and two assists this season, and despite the club’s relegation, he was a driving force in the club’s attack and a proper difference-maker when called upon.

Deployed predominantly on the right side for Leicester, the player showed he is an adept crosser of the ball based on the numbers, registering a cross accuracy of 39.5%, a factor which could very much be to Dortmund’s benefit. Serhou Guirassy spent much of last season dropping deep because, at times, there was a lack of service to the player. Buonanotte could certainly help remedy that for Guirassy, and Dortmund as an extension.

Buonanotte’s numbers also show a defensive propensity, which, if played as an attacking midfielder for Dortmund, would replace the lack of defensive contributions we often see from Dortmund’s current number 10, Julian Brandt. Buonanotte recorded 4.70 recoveries and 7.97 duels won per 90 last season, which would add a bit more robustness to Dortmund’s midfield. Buonanotte could also use the moments to spark attacks in transition for Dortmund, something that he wasn’t perhaps able to do as much at a struggling Leicester side simply trying to survive last season.

As we’ve already been able to see with the likes of Jobe Bellingham during the Club World Cup, who also played a more subdued role for Sunderland last season, players coming to Dortmund, which is a more attacking side, can go on to be far more productive in attack than perhaps their numbers initially show at previous clubs simply due to the attacking nature of the club as a whole. Buonanotte ticks a lot of the boxes Dortmund is looking for and could really take the next step in his development in Germany.

The one question that remains however is the financial feasibility of a move. Additional reports suggest that the club is currently in talks with Brighton to sign the player, with strong interest coming to the fore after the complications surrounding the possible signing of Carney Chukwuemeka. Olympique Lyon are also reported to be interested.

Buonanotte is currently valued at €20m, and has a contract with Brighton until 2028. These factors make a potential move an expensive one. With the club having been reportedly ready to pay a high fee for Nwaneri however, it’s clear that there is money for the club to shell out on the proper replacement. Buonanotte would fit multiple needs for Dortmund, and with the squad as thin as it currently is, Dortmund can hardly afford to let another high caliber target slip through their clutches.

GGFN | Brian Szlenk

All stats via FBRef, unless otherwise stated.