Dortmund replacing Mkhitaryan with...Arda Turan?

Borussia Dortmund has had a topsy-turvy transfer window so far this summer. Some big names have left while some of the world’s top young prospects have arrived.

But there is still work left to be done for Dortmund: namely replacing the newly departed Henrikh Mkhitaryan on the right wing. While Ousmane Dembele and Emre Mor have proven themselves worthy and Jakub Blaszczykowski is a fan-favorite, there is still the need for a big-name replacement.

With players like Oleksandr Zinchenko and Oliver Torres signing elsewhere and names like Josip Ilicic and Karim Bellarabi being tossed around, there is a new possibility coming into view...Arda Turan.

Already doing business with Barcelona this summer, Dortmund may be looking to poach another member of the Catalan club. The Turkish midfielder came to Barcelona from Atletico Madrid where he led the Rojablancas to a Liga BBVA title.

Turan featured in all three group stage matches for Turkey at the European Championships. Although he didn’t play on the right side for his country, the versatile winger can play on both sides of the pitch with relative ease.

Bild and Turkish media outlet Sporx are both reporting that Turan is a viable option to replace Mkhitaryan after a difficult season with Barcelona. The Turk was sporadically used by his current club and was booed at the Euros by his own fans. He will be looking to move on from Barcelona, where attacking options remain plentiful.

At Dortmund, Turan would be used as the number one right winger, something that the Turk enjoys. With a lack of playing time last season came a lack of production. The more Turan is used and relied upon, the more he will become instrumental to his team.

He will also be joined at Dortmund by his compatriots Nuri Sahin and Emre Mor, both of whom were on Turkey’s Euro squad.

Turan is a smart, play-making midfielder who at age 29 could become a leadership figure on this Dortmund squad. Dortmund could benefit from someone like Turan in midfield.

When Marc Bartra came over from Barcelona, the rumors were slow to heat up and the deal happened quickly. The same looks likely for Turan if Dortmund are to pursue the Turkish midfielder.

As always, this is currently just a rumor and nothing official has been announced. However, expect Turan to come up quite a bit in the conversation over how to replace Mkhitaryan.