With 5 signings already this window most of which competed April/May time, you could say Borussia have added well and you wouldn't be wrong in saying so.
Take Andre Hahn, for example. A virtual nobody 18 months ago exploring the lower tiers of German football for teams most people wouldn't even know existed. The explosive winger really came to the fore last season, putting in a multitude of impressive performances which gained many potential suitors quickly. With just a €2.75 million buyout clause at the time, it was only logical someone pounced before the buyout clause tripled (a clause that would have been activate this summer).
Other signings include World Cup star Fabian Johnson, who signed for the club on a costless, or Ibrahima Traore formerly of Stuttgart who signed for the costless. The big money deal of the summer saw Yann Sommer come in for a fee believed to be in the region of €8 million, to replace the much loved Marc Andre Ter Stegen. Thorgan Hazard of Chelsea also joined on a season long loan.
But with multiple departures especially in the striking department it asks the question, should Borussia maybe have invested their money in different areas?
With both Peniel Mlapa and Luuk De Jong leaving, the latter permanently after enduring a hard time in Germany, Gladbach are left with one established first team striker in Max Kruse. Now, nobody is knocking the former Freiburg attacker. He's a key asset for the club; he also narrowly missed out making it to the World Cup but, if he endures a sticky patch infront of goal similar to last term, Gladbach lack another option to replace him.
A move for Club Guarani's Jorge Benitez looked to be complete with the striker even taking part in a training session, or at least allegedly anyway. The plug was pulled on the deal with sporting director Max Eberl, stating
"Benitez is not coming. The overall package was not right."
Furthermore, Gladbach also had Otelul Galati's Alexandru Tudorie, just 18, trialling with them in July but with no success.
It's obvious the club are in need of a "back-up" striker as such and potential targets could include:
Vincent Aboubakar of FC Lorient. He has pace to burn and over his 107 Ligue 1 games for both Lorient and Valenciennes has found the net 25 times and assisted 16 times. Transfermarkt.co.uk values the Cameroon international at £3.7 million (€4.6 million), a fee definitely affordable for Gladbach.
Anthony Modeste of 1899 Hoffenheim. Modeste looks set for a move to Hertha Berlin, but if the move falls through Gladbach could and probably should make a move. The twenty-six year old found the net twelve times and assisted twice last season as part of a goal happy Hoffenheim side.
Elsewhere on the pitch, they should also be looking to add to the centre back area. Despite having four, including a make-shift one, a central defender is needed if not two. The ageing pair of Martin Stranzl and Roel Brouwers won't be around forever and there's even been talk of it being their last seasons, being 34 and 33 respectively.
Gladbach should look no further than FC Basel's Fabian Schär, whose qualities were seen by the world during the World Cup. Schär who has been targeted by a number of big name European sides, would be an ideal signing, being young and full of potential. Current manager, Lucien Favre is renowned for turning youth prospects into stars take Marco Reus, for example, who he sold on for around €17 million mark. It is said Favre is a huge fan of his Swiss compatriot and judging by transfermarkt's £7 million (roughly €8.75 million) evaluation, Schär could prove a real steal for that price. With European experience under his belt too he could prove a great buy for a Gladbach side hoping to play Europa League football next term.
The Gladbach - Basel link would therefore continue and even though there is no cuddly relationship between the pair Gladbach have taken some of the Swiss sides top talents including Granit Xhaka and more recently Yann Sommer.
Gladbach aren't in as great a financial state as Bayern or Dortmund, but they're most definitely not cash strapped.
Much of the €13 million fee received for Ter Stegen was reinvested fairly quickly and Sommer and Hahn came in for a near combined €11 million. Luuk De Jong was sold on for a fee in the region of €5-7 million so Gladbach are currently in a fairly good position to make a move for a striker, which should be made a priority before the window closes and or a "future" centre-back.
Certainly with the addition of another top striker Gladbach could mount a serious challenge for the top four and the holy land of the Champions League next season. The current squad is strong and in all honesty probably could compete for Champions League qualification but not on the scale they could if they acquired another signing or two particularly up top. The additions could also push Gladbach that little bit further in Europe this term if they make it into the Europa League.