Over the years, Borussia Dortmund have had forward players who went onto achieve great things. Be it Robert Lewandowski, Marco Reus and the modern example of Jadon Sancho, all of them have become rather prominent names in the game. But one man that they let go is Alexander Isak. But soon, they might realise the need to bring the Real Sociedad man back.
The story of Isak’s career was a strange one. After shining in Sweden at AIK as a teenager, he sealed a move to Dortmund in the winter of 2017. The move to BVB came for €8.6 million and was expected to reap big rewards in the future. After failing to break into the club’s first-team for over two seasons, he was loaned out to Willem II in an attempt to get some first-team football.
He sparkled in the Netherlands, contributing to 21 goals in 18 games for the club. Despite that, he didn’t make it to the Dortmund first-team with Paco Alcacer having established himself a regular. As a result, he sealed a move to Real Sociedad and the Bundesliga club have the right to re-sign him and buy him back.
And at Sociedad, he has been enjoying himself in the best possible way. In La Liga, he has scored seven times and has one assist to his name. But in Copa del Rey, he’s been on fire by scoring seven times in just as many games while also picking up two assists. In all competitions, he has contributed to 17 and that is the highest of his career – leading online bookmakers to be tipping him for awards at the end of the season.
While that has given rise to many feeling that he is meant for a bigger club, Erling Haaland’s performances can make sure that he should not return to BVB just yet. But considering the sort of club Dortmund are, Haaland will not be there for too long. The Norwegian has already scored nine goals in eight appearances if he keeps scoring, he will get a bigger move soon enough.
And that is when Isak’s chance may come. In his first season at La Real, he may have impressed but a single season may not be enough to prove his ability over a long-term. He has underperformed on his XG and it shows that he still needs to get better. While he’s played a striker on a regular basis, Willian Jose has played the role of a much more burlier target-man.
Isak has relied on coming off the bench a lot of times and adds something different that Willian Jose doesn’t always add. But despite not being as big as Willian Jose physically, Isak isn’t someone who relies on aerial ability all along. He’s a complete package, having not excelled at either dribbling, heading or creating chances. He is more like a jack of all trades and a master of none.
He takes only 1.3 shots per game showing how he has less input to derive a higher output. But he still boasts of a non-penalty XG of 0.46 and it shows how crucial a season he’s had in the campaign. As a result his conversation rate stands at a high 20 percent and if he can keep this going, the big move will come soon.
If Haaland does leave for another club soon, Isak will have a big chance to return to BVB. They will be looking for a striker like Isak- someone who can do many things apart from scoring goals. That is what Haaland and Alcacer do and did under Lucien Favre. He won’t be a big signing financially and at a young age, he can help the club reap rewards in the future.
