In recent developments over the weekend, Borussia Dortmund have rejected suggestions that they’ll make a formal approach to sign 19-year-old midfielder Gedion Zelalem.

The talented teenager, who is out of contract at the end of the current season, has been subject to interest from a number of European clubs with a possible loan move in the question as he aims for regular minutes at senior level this year.

On Tuesday we reported that Dortmund were reportedly closing in on Gedion’s signature, but that is no longer the case at present.

As quoted by ESPN, Dortmund’s boss Thomas Tuchel had this to say when questioned about the possibility of signing the US international this month: “Right now? No. Not as far as I’m concerned. I don’t think that we (need) to add somebody [in January].”

Having returned to full training last week after their winter break, Dortmund are missing a number of players through injury – but Tuchel instead opted to focus on how important it was that it took time for Dortmund’s senior players to settle in, especially with the number of new acquisitions that arrived this past summer.

So, what’s next for him?

It’s unfair to judge Zelalem’s lack of opportunities with the senior side, given the fact that there is so much competition for midfield places within the team itself. It’s unfortunate that despite his development, he’s not being rewarded with even sporadic minutes – but if they could give him assurances about his future, there’s no reason as to why he wouldn’t sign a new contract extension before the end of the campaign.

gz2
ST ALBANS, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 22: (L-R) Arsenal’s Francis Coquelin and Gedion Zelalem during a training session at London Colney. (Picture source: Stuart MacFarlane / Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Gedion turns 20 in just under two weeks’ time and I genuinely feel a loan move to a suitable Premier League side would prove beneficial for him, in the same vein that Chelsea’s Nathan Aké has developed with regular minutes in England’s top flight over the past eighteen months.