Bayern Munich keen on Kostas Manolas and Matthijs de Ligt

Bayern Munich have reportedly marked Kostas Manolas and Matthijs de Ligt as potential candidates for a summer transfer.

We are still several weeks away from the January transfer window, and several months from the summer one, but the poor form of Bayern Munich means the club can’t escape the spotlight. Woeful displays from many of the club’s veteran players only fuel the fire of transfer rumors that seemingly can’t stop emerging from the rumor mill.

Uli Hoeness recently confirmed Bayern’s intentions to overhaul their squad next summer. The Bayern president said his club won’t look to spend over the winter break, but they will “change the face of the team” in the summer.

If he is telling the truth, this means the Bavarians will have to spend big next summer to bring in players that will help usher in a new era at the club. While age has caught up to both Mats Hummels (29) and Jerome Boateng (30), one area of the squad Bayern will look to reinforce is central defense.

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Based on a few reports, the Bavarians have already identified two potential targets for their next center-back. First, according to Corriere dello Sport, Roma defender Kostas Manolas has landed on Bayer’s radar. The Greek center-back apparently has a buyout clause of €36 million that both Bayern Munich and Juventus are interested in activating.

German outlet Bild picked up the Italian report and further added that Bayern have been heavily scouting Ajax teenager and captain Matthijs de Ligt as well. Spanish giants Barcelona are also interested in the 19-year-old, however, so the Bavarians could be in for a bidding war should they seriously pursue De Ligt.

Both players are outstanding defenders in their own right, but there’s no question De Ligt is the more exciting of the two. At only 19-years-old he’d be a great signing for both the present and the future of the club. However, this also means he’ll be the more expensive of the two.

If the reported €36 million fee for Manolas is true, that’s a bargain! He turned 27 over the summer, so he’s nowhere near as young as De Ligt, but that also means he has much more experience than his Dutch counterpart.

Both defenders are very physical players but possess the ability to play out of the back. Either would pair well with Bayern’s German giant Niklas Sule. De Ligt is the better option for the future, but Manolas — particularly due to his cheap price tag — is by no means a poor option himself.

Then, of course, there is also the question of Benjamin Pavard. Has the Frenchman already agreed a deal to join the Bavarians next summer as many suggest? If so, that deal will certainly affect who Bayern Munich choose to pursue and how much they are willing to spend.