According to a recent report from Spanish outlet Marca, Bayern Munich have been monitoring Valencia’s Spanish forward Rodrigo.
Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich played their final game of the ’17-18 season on Saturday, losing the DFB Pokal final to Eintracht Frankfurt. Bayern’s impending coach, Niko Kovac, made an emphatic statement for all his haters, defeating his future employers with a significantly less talented squad.
With their season firmly behind them and the World Cup just around the corner, Bayern now turn their attention to the transfer market. After a relatively disappointing season and with a new manager taking over, this could be quite the busy summer for the Bavarian giants.
Recently, the club has been linked with Valencia striker Rodrigo. A report from Spanish outlet Marca suggests that Bayern has been monitoring the Spaniard throughout this season. Several clubs are rumored to be interested in the player, but the Bavarians are reportedly the only club to have made solid contact with Valencia.
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Rodrigo would be an interesting purchase for Bayern Munich. The link is almost too easy to make; Rodrigo is cousins with Thiago Alcantara. Beyond that, though, he has proven himself quite the attacking threat over the course of this past season.
The 27-year-old has had a breakout season of sorts at Valencia, scoring 16 goals and assisting four more across 31 starts. His excellent displays helped Valencia earn a fourth-placed finish in La Liga and earned him a call-up to the Spanish national team squad for this summer’s World Cup.
Though he may not seem quite up to Bayern caliber, Rodrigo might actually be a good buy for die Roten. He’s a versatile attacker, capable of playing all across the frontline, though he’s most effective as a center-forward. He’s pacy, excellent on the ball and a solid finisher with both his head and his feet.
Perhaps most importantly, though, Rodrigo is a hard-working player. The Spaniard never stops running, contributing heavily even when not involved in the attack. This is a trait Niko Kovac values highly. Industrious players like Ante Rebic, who tore apart Bayern’s defense in the DFB Pokal, play an important role in Kovac’s side.
If Kovac is intended on playing a more centralized three/five-at-the-back formation at Bayern Munich, Rodrigo would be a great option for the Croatian manager.
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It’s hard to judge the veracity of this report. After all, Marca are the only news source really reporting on the potential transfer. It’s doubtful Bayern pay the €60 million fee Valencia is said to have placed on the player. But if the Bavarians can sign him for less, a move for Rodrigo is one that could definitely make sense for the club.