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Apparently Borussia Dortmund have an affinity for Swiss goalkeepers, as they are putting the finishing touches on bringing in a third for the upcoming season. Several outlets are reporting that the deal is done and Gregor Kobel, who has been linked with BVB for weeks, will be Die Schwarzgelben’s first new player signing of the summer.
Wenige Tage nach dem Saisonende bringt Borussia #Dortmund den ersten Neuzugang unter Dach und Fach. Wie mehrfach berichtet, wird sich Torhüter Gregor #Kobel (23) dem #BVB anschließen: https://t.co/K2OT4SyVmI (Foto: dpa) pic.twitter.com/oJWMabZDPV
— Ruhr Nachrichten BVB (@RNBVB) May 27, 2021
While a proper number one is desperately needed at BVB, questions remain over Kobel’s ability to fulfill those needs. In fact, Sean broke down exactly why Dortmund should stay away from Kobel. Here is that article if you missed it:
#BVB have been tied fairly heavily to Stuttgart’s Gregor Kobel over the past few weeks. Here’s a breakdown of his numbers and why BVB should NOT spend lots of money on him. https://t.co/ch6LMAM6wm
— Fear the Wall (@FearTheWall) May 24, 2021
Kobel made 33 appearances for VFB Stuttgart and managed to keep 5 clean sheets for a side that finished ninth in the Bundesliga table. However, Kobel does not rank well in raw save percentage (Sv%) or in post-shot expected goals (PSxG) and appears not be able to work as a sweeper-keeper given the numbers we have seen. Nevertheless, Kobel does have a couple things going for him that is worth mentioning. Standing 6 foot 4, Kobel is taller than both Roman Bürki and Marwin Hitz, and while his numbers do not impress, it must be said that it’s difficult to measure goalkeeper numbers when take into account formations, systems, and defensive personnel. At only 23 years old, there is a very good chance that Kobel can transform into a top keeper, but the problem is that BVB need that shot-stopper right now.
This signing will most likely open the door for one goalkeeper to exit, with Bürki the odds on favorite as Hitz just recently signed a two year extension during his run with the first team over the ruckründe. Bürki himself signed a long-term extension last summer but his early performances were poor before his injury, and the signing of Kobel means the board clearly doesn’t trust either of the current crop to take Die Borussen where they want to be, which is another Bundesliga title. That said, based on his numbers, it doesn’t appear that Kobel is truly ready to do so either. In fact, Kobel has only made 1 appearance in European competition and has never even participated in the Champions League in his young career. While we all know that BVB need a true number one between the sticks, this signing feels very underwhelming even given the current financial climate.
Your Thoughts
Will Kobel fill the role needed by Dortmund?