Bundesliga
Isak confident of Dortmund breakthrough
Borussia Dortmund’s 19-year-old striker Alexander Isak is currently on loan at Dutch side Willem II, but having hit the ground running in the Netherlands, he is confident he can make an impact at the Signal Iduna Park next season.
Isak was signed when Thomas Tuchel was still in the BVB dugout in January 2017, but despite significant excitement around the “next Zlatan Ibrahimovic,” the teenaged Swede struggled to make an impact.
Already a full international for his country, Isak showed some promise with Dortmund’s second string, scoring five goals in 11 appearances before his February switch to the Dutch Eredevisie, but he has confirmed that talent and then some in the months since.
The striker, who stands 6’3”-tall, has plundered 12 goals in just 14 appearances in the second half of the European season, and the Dortmund coaching team have taken note.
“I believe in [making my breakthrough] at Dortmund,” Isak told Swedish national newspaper Expressen. “I’ve put on good performances here [at Willem II] and they’re satisfied with what I’ve been doing.”
An extra attacking option could be a welcome bonus for Lucien Favre next season. Dortmund have scored a league second-best 76 goals, but Mario Götze – normally a midfielder – has been leading the line, while Paco Alcacer has only started 10 of his 24 games in his maiden season with the club.
Isak plans to compete with them next term. “I know there's interest in me,” he said. “But I have a contract with Dortmund.”