Mario Götze Should Leave Borussia Dortmund Before Transfer Window Ends

Mario Götze is struggling to get playing time for Borussia Dortmund this season. The 2019-20 season has just begun and BVB have only played four games, but the trend is quite clear already. And it’s worrying for Götze.

The former Germany international has not started in any of Dortmund’s first four competitive matches this season and hasn’t played more than 13 minutes in any single game so far. It’s clear he is not very high on Lucien Favre’s pecking order, and that is not likely to change soon judging by the manager’s recent comments.

“We have a lot of competition in [Mario Götze’s] position. [Thorgan] Hazard can also play as a forward, Paco Alcacer can, of course, and [Jacob] Bruun Larsen too. It is what it is. He can also play behind the forwards if we play 4-2-3-1. He can do that, but so can Julian Brandt and Hazard. There are lots of options at the moment”, Favre told media in Thursday’s pre-match press conference ahead of Friday’s game at Koln.

This is not the first time Götze deals with a lack of playing time. It already happened to him when he was at Bayern Munich, and he ended returning to Dortmund as a result. And this time, he should follow the same route and play elsewhere.

The 27-year-old attacking midfielder needs to play regularly in order to achieve his best form. And it’s clear this is not going to happen at the Signal Iduna Park any time soon. The fact that Marco Reus is (finally) healthy, Jadon Sancho’s blistering form and Paco Alcacer’s revival since joining Dortmund complicate the picture. Plus, the arrivals of both Hazard and Brandt reduce Götze’s chances to practically zero.

It’s quite clear that he is a talented player, but apparently the manager does not rate him as highly as he could. That might have to do with the fact that Götze only scored seven goals in 34 appearances in all competitions while playing primarily as a striker. That’s not a good return even if that’s not his natural role.

Another factor to consider here is Götze’s current contract at Dortmund. Since it runs out at the end of the current season, The Yellow Bees must make a decision soon. If they don’t sell Götze in the coming days and he spends most of the season on the bench, then he is likely to leave as a free agent. But he could easily net a transfer fee in the range of the €30M to €40M.

The solution, then, becomes crystal clear. Götze should leave Dortmund at the first offer that comes for him before the transfer window ends on September 2nd. Considering the situation, it seems like the best offer for all parties involved.