Transfer dominoes: How Dortmund's Dembele signing could spark chain reaction

On paper, Borussia Dortmund's signing of Ousmane Dembele might appear to be nothing more than a transfer involving a European footballing giant and a youngster who shows incredible promise. Similar deals, in which a teenager outgrows his home and moves on to greener pastures, take place each and every year.

Related: Borussia Dortmund signs coveted teenage star Ousmane Dembele from Rennes

However, by signing Dembele, Dortmund may have unintentionally set off a domino effect involving some of Europe's largest clubs and most expensive players.

It seems ridiculous to suggest the transfer of an 18-year-old could send shock waves across European football, but, given the situations of Dortmund, Real Madrid, Arsenal, and Juventus, a chain reaction might be on the horizon.

Here's an educated guess at how Dortmund's signing of Dembele could impact Europe:

... Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Real Madrid

"My childhood dream? To play at Real Madrid."

Those were the words of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dortmund's top scorer in the Bundesliga this season, in February. In 2014, the poster boy of Gabon's national team promised his late grandfather, who was from Spain, that he would one day play for Los Blancos.

In fact, Aubameyang's celebratory backflips are the product of Hugo Sanchez, who scored 208 goals through 282 official matches at Real Madrid. "When I was a kid, I watched Hugo Sanchez video," Aubameyang said. "The backflip I sometimes do when I score is actually an homage to him."

A report from AS in March claimed that Real Madrid has sealed a deal for Aubameyang. Combined with the forward's love for Los Blancos and Dortmund's signing of Dembele, it seems to fair to assume Aubemeyang's time at the Westfalenstadion could be winding down.

... Karim Benzema to Arsenal

If Aubameyang joined Real Madrid, that would inevitably have an impact on Karim Benzema's future with the Los Blancos.

Last summer, Benzema was linked with a move to Arsenal in countless reports.

Although Benzema insisted in October that he never considered leaving Real Madrid and said he laughs about the "rumours" with his brother and friends, a great deal has changed since then. Namely, Arsenal missed out on yet another Premier League title while suffering from a lack of finishing, and the French forward arguably finds himself as the most dispensable of Los Blancos' front three, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Gareth Bale.

Whether or not Arsenal makes another attempt to sign Benzema remains to be seen, but Aubameyang's arrival at Real Madrid could accelerate a potential transfer.

... Alvaro Morata stays at Juventus

If Arsenal were to sign Benzema and Real Madrid acquired Aubameyang, it seems logical to conclude that Alvaro Morata would remain at Juventus.

Morata's future at Juventus is clouded by uncertainly largely because of Real Madrid, which holds an option to reacquire the Italian forward's registration rights at the end of the 2015-16 campaign at predetermined values of up to €30 million. He's also behind Mario Mandzukic in the Old Lady's pecking order, a role that would seem to be unfair given his undeniable eye for goal.

Beppe Marotta, Juventus sporting director, said at the beginning of May that Morata wants to stay at the club, but acknowledged Real Madrid has "everything needed to change his mind." However, if Los Blancos did sign Aubameyang, they wouldn't be able to offer minutes to their former player.

As for Arsenal's reported interest in Morata, any potential transfer would almost certainly be killed if the Gunners were to land Benzema.