I heard this kind of speculation last season too, when they sold Haaland. Many said that they would not be as strong as the previous season because they sold one of their most important players. And they showed that it was wrong and they remained one of the clubs that had the second biggest chance after Bayern Munich, and even last season they almost won the title if only in the last match they could get full points at that time.
Undoubtedly its important players for Borussia Dortmund Bellingham and Haaland departures have had an effect on the team performance. Dortmund recruiting of young talent is their strength, but they might run into difficulties this year. I think They still have time to demonstrate their dominance in the Bundesliga despite a poor start. Their rivalry with Bayern Munich though might not be as intense. Dortmund chances of qualifying for the UCL are in jeopardy due to the improvement of other Bundesliga teams.
Dortmund is the best producer of players because this club has produced players like Erling Haaland, Jude Bellingham and sold them to other clubs in Europe for a huge price. Last season, Dortmund sold their star player Jude Bellingham to Real Madrid. The sale of Jude Bellingham took a toll on their team and they are trying to get rid of it. Bundesliga Dortmund is one of the best teams but the team has weakened a bit after the departure of key players this season.
Considering Dortmund's current performance, they cannot compete with Bayern Munich. They definitely need more quality players in their squad to compete with Bayern Munich.