Douglas Jones-USA TODAY Sports
After leading Dutch Eredivisie team AZ Alkmaar in scoring and to their first Dutch Cup Championship since 1982, transfer rumors have surrounded U.S. Men’s National Team forward Jozy Altidore. For a player that scored 31 goals in 40 games for Alkmaar in all competitions, there will be clubs all over the world that are scrambling to sign him.
However, of all the teams that will be after him this summer, Champions League runners-up Borussia Dortmund would be the perfect fit for Altidore.
Dortmund forward Robert Lewandowski is most likely leaving Dortmund this summer for a club with more money, with the rumors pointed to Bayern Munich at the moment. The Black-Yellows will need a new forward capable of finishing up top, but will also want to buy one rather cheaply so they can use the money to strengthen their midfield after Mario Götze’s exit. A forward like Altidore fits the budget needs of Dortmund perfectly.
Dortmund’s midfield is one of the most talented in the world at passing into space. Marco Reus and Kevin Grosskreutz can cut swaths through defenses. Götze’s absence will leave a huge hole in the midfield, but Reus is proving to be one of the best young passing midfielders in the Bundesliga. In the long run, Reus will be a better player for Dortmund than Götze will be for Bayern. Dortmund is a young team that will only continue to get better players from all over the world, especially with all the revenue generated from selling big-name stars like Lewandowski and Götze.
Altidore plays best with through-balls from the midfield. He is physically built to be a center forward, but his speed and vision allow him to shine at the striker position. His scoring success at the international level with the U.S. Men’s National Team has been hindered by coaches using him as a center forward, but one look at his success in the Eredivisie will show that he is better playing in space — exactly the type of forward that Dortmund is looking to sign.
Dortmund is the perfect place for Altidore to transfer because there will be Champions League soccer, and they have a cast of players that will help him get better. The move would not only benefit Altidore’s development as a player, but Dortmund will also gain an in-form striker capable of immediately making an impact in the Bundesliga. Lewandowski will leave a huge hole up top for the German runners-up, and Altidore could fill it perfectly.
