Potential Additions and Losses Dortmund Could See this January

Borussia Dortmund might be busy in the coming months bolstering their team. Three recent rumors indicate the possibility of additional young talent being brought into the Wesfalenstadion in 2017.

Staying with the current theme of youth, Dortmund reportedly scouted former Manchester City academy product Seko Fofana last week in Italy, according to TuttoMercato. The Udinese striker has appeared in 11 games this season, scoring four times in his first season at the club.

Fofana, 21, recently signed a five-year deal worth nearly €3 million. Dortmund appear thin in attack with only two out-and-out strikers on the roster. The addition of a third in Fofana offers Dortmund the opportunity to develop the French starlet into a powerful, speedy striker.

Another name coming out of Serie A is Karol Linetty of Sampdoria, TuttoMercato reports. The 21-year-old spent four seasons at Lech Poznan before making the move last summer to Italy. The midfielder has been capped 13 times by his native Poland, scoring once back in 2014.

Linetty remains under contract until 2021 with Sampdoria but his estimated price of around €3.2 million would be attractive to clubs like Dortmund - a team that has had success with Polish players in the past.

A more expensive option in center midfield would be Taulant Xhaka, brother of former Monchengladbach star Granit Xhaka. The FC Basel midfielder has captured the interest of Dortmund, Schalke, and Valencia in Spain, according to Albanian media outlet Koha.

The Swiss club is looking for €15 million in return for the Albanian international, an astronomical asking price for a player of his caliber. At 25, Taulant Xhaka still has his best years ahead of him. It is clear, however, that Dortmund admire youth over experience and would likely bid for Linetty over Xhaka.

One player Dortmund could be losing, temporarily, during the transfer window is Mikel Merino. After coming over from Osasuna last summer, Merino has failed to make an impact at Dortmund, managing only six appearances. Rumors circulating indicate that Dortmund may be looking to loan Merino until June 2018. One club interested in signing Merino on loan is FC Koln.

The move makes sense for both clubs. For Dortmund, unloading Merino to give him time to develop and adapt to the style of the Bundesliga would be paramount, seeing as he’s not doing much of that with BVB. As for Koln, adding depth at midfield as well as a speedy attacking (or defending) option never hurts, especially for a club vying for a European league spot.