Borussia Dortmund must hold Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang hostage

Borussia Dortmund must hold on to their star pairing of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer

Borussia Dortmund are caught in one of the most difficult transfer predicaments of the summer. If they want to keep the faith of their fan base, they simply have to hold on to Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at all costs.

They’ve already sold prominent stars in the form of Ilkay Gundogan and Mats Hummels this window which has tested the patience of many Dortmund fans. They might have a riot on their hands if they continue to sell off their established stars. Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang are the two biggest stars they have left on the books.

Both stars have the ability to command significant sums in the transfer market. Mkhitaryan has been a prime target for the likes of Chelsea and Arsenal, while Aubameyang has been heavily linked with Manchester City. The reality for Dortmund is that they need the players, not the cash at this point in their club’s history.

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Mkhitaryan isn’t making life easy for his club. His agent has been quite public about his client’s wishes to play elsewhere next season. They have flatly turned down a new contract offer from Dortmund and are doing everything possible to angle for a Premier League move.

On the other hand, Aubameyang has been relatively quiet about his future. He did request a meeting with the club’s ownership to clarify their level of ambition after the sales of Hummels and Gundogan, but he certainly isn’t openly advocating for a move to City. It seems likely that holding on to Mkhitaryan and adding a few other pieces in the transfer window would be enough to have him extend his stay with the club.

That makes Mkhitaryan the lynch pin for the club’s success in the near future. If they can find a way to repair their relationship with the talented attacker, then the rest of their squad should fall into place. The club can spend big to replace Gundogan and Hummels in the summer, and could possibly enter next season with a stronger squad.

Perhaps more importantly, Dortmund must hold on to their remaining stars to begin to repair their reputation. At some point they have to cease their identity as a selling club. Right now, many fans around the world see them as a sort of feeder system for Bayern and Europe’s other big clubs.

For Dortmund fans, that perception has to be an absolute slap in the face. It’s time that their club’s ownership draw a line in the sand. They must hold on to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan this summer if they want to be taken seriously in the future.