Borussia Dortmund began last season in devastating fashion, racking up six wins in seven games and scoring 20 goals on the way.
Only two goals were conceded on that run and five clean sheets were kept.
They were truly superior in both halves of the pitch, scoring goals for fun and keeping them out like there was no tomorrow.
But a surprise 3-2 defeat to RB Leipzig sparked an unexpected run of eight league games without a victory and pretty much extinguished any hopes of a first league title since 2012, before the Winter Break.
In truth, everything fell apart for BVB and manager Peter Bosz.
The strikers lost confidence, the midfield was not dictating or protecting the defensive line and silly mistakes were made at the back.
That humiliating run sparked the end of Bosz’ reign and a once-promising title run had turned into a battle for the top four.
Luckily, BVB made it into the Champions League places and all blushes and embarrassments were spared.
Thomas Delaney and Axel Witsel arrived from Werder Bremen and Tianjin Quanjian respectively and they will beef up the Dortmund midfield.
Julian Weigl is still at the club but he has many admirers and it will be a surprise if nobody comes in for him in January.
If Dortmund endure another poor start to the season or struggle to escape the group-stages of the Champion’s League, who’s to say that the young German will not lose patience with the club and look elsewhere?
Dortmund has to prepare themselves for the worst and there is a top player in Europe who could be eyeing a potential move – Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
After a successful loan spell with Crystal Palace and some respectable appearances and cameos at the World Cup, Ruben Loftus-Cheek has once again returned to parent club Chelsea to be greeted by a long queue of midfielders.
The £54 million signing of Jorginho and the loan signing of World Cup star Mateo Kovacic has shifted the powerful midfielder even further down the pecking order.
New manager, Maurizio Sarri has started Ross Barkley in the first two matches of the season and with Cesc Fabregas to come back and Danny Drinkwater still at the club, it does not seem like Loftus-Cheek is going to get a chance this season.
Borussia Dortmund took Michy Batshuayi on loan for the second half of last season and the move was a huge success for both parties – there is no reason why Dortmund could not take RLC on loan and replicate the success they had with Batshuayi.
The fact that neither Loftus-Cheek of Chelsea has decided to pull the plug on his blues career, suggest that both parties still believe there is a future at Stamford Bridge.
Loftus-Cheek’s performances for Palace last season were deemed worthy enough for a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad so he is a highly rated midfielder.
His performances in England’s pre-tournament friendlies, most notably against then defending World Champions Germany, highlighted that he is good enough to mix with some of the best players in the world.
However, the one thing he lacks is Champion’s League experience, and with Dortmund, in the Champions League, this move would suit everybody, including parent club Chelsea.
Last season he was deployed as a defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder and as a wide midfielder so his versatility would suit Dortmund perfectly.
If the Chelsea midfielder wants to maintain his place in the England set-up, then he will need to be a first team regular and with the English transfer window shut, he will have to look abroad.
If Julian Weigl and Thomas Delaney suffer early injuries or poor form, then Axel Witsel, who has not played in any of the so-called ‘big four leagues’ (England, Spain, Germany and Italy) will be the only defensive midfielder in Dortmund’s ranks.
A season-long loan would suit both clubs and Ruben Loftus-Cheek himself, but with the lack of English players playing outside the United Kingdom, it is a move which seems unlikely.
