Reports in recent days are making it seem increasingly likely that Nico Schlotterbeck could depart the Signal Iduna Park this summer, despite him signing a new contract in April of this year, but where to is unknown at the moment.

The most recent team linked to Nico Schlotterbeck is Liverpool, who have been linked to him in the past. The Merseyside outfit is looking for a replacement for Ibrahima Konate, after it was confirmed that he is set to leave the club at the end of the season.

According to Liverpool insider Dave OCKOP, Liverpool is a club that could potentially make a move for the Centre Half, with his representatives having previously visited the AXA Training Centre, and Liverpool being one of the clubs able to activate his release clause, valued at between £45-£55 million. 

So if Schlotterbeck is to leave Germany this summer, who will Dortmund look at to replace him? Well, when it was looking unlikely that Schlotterbeck was going to sign his new contract, Dortmund began looking around for potential replacements, with one of them being Axel Disasi. 

Disasi has spent the 2nd half of this season on loan at struggling West Ham United, but has stood out as one of West Ham’s better players in the heart of their defence. Following West Ham’s relegation to the Championship, it is highly unlikely that he returns to the Hammers and his parent club, Chelsea, will be looking to sell the French defender off the back of this short but successful stint in East London. 

Valued at €15million by Transfermarkt, this could provide Dortmund with a cheap replacement for Schlotterbeck, allowing them to invest the rest of the money they receive for the German into other areas of their squad.

Disasi, aged 28, provides a player who will be entering the prime of his career and will be motivated to kick on following a difficult time at Chelsea. Furthermore, the 6’3 defender offers similar physical attributes to Schlotterbeck, and in the back 3 Dortmund plays, he would prove to be an adequate replacement. 

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An option that will be more familiar to watchers of the Bundesliga will be Danilho Doekhi. The Dutch defender has been ever-present for Union Berlin this season and is leaving at the end of his contract.

There is a wide variety of club is interested in Doekhi’s services, including Leeds United, and it is easier to see why. The defender has been a part of a Union Berlin side that has recorded their best finish in the Bundesliga in 3 years, finishing 11th, with Doekhi being key to that. 

He has won 160 aerial duels this season, which ranks him as the 4th best in the Bundesliga, ahead of Nico Schlotterbeck and highly rated young talent Luka Vuskovic. Additionally, this would be a player who has 4 years' worth of experience in the Bundesliga, who can be picked up on a free transfer, offering incredible value for money for Dortmund.

READ MORE: 3 Players Dortmund Should Sign for the Starting XI This Summer

A final option for Dortmund to bring in is in the form of the young, highly rated defender, Karim Coulibaly. Currently playing for fellow Bundesliga side Werder Bremen, at just 19 years old, he has had a successful breakout season for a Werder Bremen side that was under huge relegation pressure this campaign. 

Rated highly by Dortmund Sporting Director Nils-Ole Book, Coulibaly would conform to Dortmund’s usual transfer policy of signing young, relatively unheard-of names and developing them. The only question would be, how much could Werder Bremen demand for a defender who clearly has a lot of potential but only has one season of experience under his belt?

Furthermore, do Dortmund want to replace such a proven quantity in Nico Schlotterbeck with a player who may not be fully ready for the step up from a relegation battle to one of the biggest clubs in European football?