It has now been confirmed that Nico Schlotterbeck has picked up a serious injury, but what does this mean for Borussia Dortmund?
What Has Been Said?
The club announced today that Nico Schlotterbeck has sustained an “inner ligament injury” in his left ankle and will be on the sidelines for several months.
This is undoubtedly a huge blow for everyone involved, Nico Schlotterbeck himself most importantly.
The German defender was coming off the back of a successful individual season with Borussia Dortmund, leading to speculation over whether he would leave the club this summer and sign for Real Madrid or Liverpool, among other names.
IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters/John E SokolowskiHowever, that has clearly taken a huge blow with the defender set to miss the remainder of a World Cup he started so well, scoring in the opening game, as well as the first few weeks of the brand new season.
It would now appear that the likelihood of Borussia Dortmund retaining Nico Schlotterbeck's services has been significantly enhanced following this news, with clubs unlikely to sign a currently injured player.
As for the World Cup, Nico Schlotterbeck is set to remain with the German national team for the duration of the remainder of their World Cup, with Antonio Rudiger the likely candidate to step in and take his spot in the starting lineup.
What Next For Borussia Dortmund?
For Borussia Dortmund, this is a blow. Despite the fact that it is more likely the play stays this summer, he will be returning following a serious injury and one that will have kept him out for all of pre-season as well as a large portion of the opening games of the new season.
And if Nico Schlotterbeck is unable to get straight back into the team, his value will drop, meaning not only have Borussia Dortmund lost a player, but also the value that the player once held.
The question is now, do Borussia Dortmund go out there and replace Nico Schlotterbeck? That answer is, at the moment, unknown
But it now means that the likes of Waldemar Anton and Ramy Bensebaini have just become very important for Borussia Dortmund in the opening phases of the season.
As the Bundesliga runners-up aim to challenge Bayern Munich, should anything happen to Waldemar Anton and/or Ramy Bensebaini, the club is left with a very inexperienced backline leading them into the new campaign.
