Borussia Dortmund wanted to sign 17-year-old talent Malik Jakupovic. The offer from the Bundesliga leaders was, however, turned down by his current club, MLS side Philadelphia Union.
The Black and Yellows had shown interest in the promising forward, who is eligible to represent both Bosnia and Herzegovina and the United States. The club from Dortmund, which tops the table with four wins from four games and a two-point lead over Bayern Munich, continues to scout young talents for the future. Their current form is flawless, the latest victory a 1-0 win at VfB Stuttgart on September 19th thanks to a goal from Maximilian Beier.
Dortmund's decision-makers evidently saw great potential in Jakupovic. The teenager currently plays in the Philadelphia Union academy. A move to Europe would have been the next logical step for the dual-national. Union, however, decided to keep the young player for now and rejected the offer from Germany.
Focus on the future
Borussia Dortmund's transfer policy has long focused on identifying and developing young players. This season, the team is also relying on its own youth and smart acquisitions. The current top scorer is Serhou Guirassy with two goals. The injury list includes Filippo Mané and Giannis Konstantelias.
The failed deal for Jakupovic does not change the team's excellent position. With nine goals scored and only two conceded, the defence is solid and the attack varied. The full stats for the season underline the strong start.
The next target is now the home match against Werder Bremen on October 9th. The eighth-placed side visits Signal Iduna Park, where Dortmund remain unbeaten this season. All planning for the coming weeks can be seen in the fixtures. The focus is now fully on maintaining top spot.
