Borussia Dortmund have reconsidered their plans to send Italian-born defender of Senegalese descent Filippo Mane out on loan during the January transfer window, opting instead to keep him amid changes in their defensive setup.
The shift in strategy follows the imminent departure of Aaron Anselmino. The 20-year-old centre back, who had been on loan at Dortmund until the summer of 2026, is set to return to Chelsea after the Premier League club activated a buy-back clause in his contract.
With Anselmino heading back to England, uncertainty briefly surrounded Dortmund’s central defence. Reports from Ruhr Nachrichten had suggested that Mane was in line for a loan move to a club in Germany’s second division, but those plans now appear to have been shelved due to the evolving situation within the squad.
Further reports from Funke Sport indicate that Dortmund are unlikely to bring in a replacement defender despite Anselmino’s exit, increasing the chances of Mane remaining part of the first team setup for the remainder of the season.
As Dortmund adjust to the sudden change, Mane’s presence offers added depth at the back, effectively closing the door on a temporary move away from the club for the time being.
