Bayern Munich should monitor these five World Cup stars should they seek to bolster their squad over the summer.
The German Champions are yet to make a move in this transfer window, as the 2018 World Cup has made things a bit complicated. Bayern Munich acquired the services of Leon Goretzka for next season in January. The German midfielder joins the club from Schalke on a free transfer and will be a big boost to the Bavarian midfield. Apart from Goretzka, Serge Gnabry is also set to be a new addition to the first team after a successful one-year loan with Hoffenheim.
There have been numerous brilliant individual performances at the World Cup. These players are set to attract interest from a lot of top clubs as soon as the tournament is over. Bayern Munich are reportedly ready to sell some high profile players this summer. And if they do, it is likely that the German champions will replace these star players with youth.
Bayern have preferred younger players instead of experienced stars in the past few transfer windows. The club has enjoyed success by following this policy, as the likes of Kingsley Coman, Niklas Sule and Corentin Tolisso are becoming important players for the club. Bayern will be hoping to achieve similar success with Goretzka and Gnabry.
The World Cup in Russia has witnessed many brilliant performances from young players. These players are being monitored by numerous clubs across the Europe. Bayern Munich will also have several options to explore in the transfer market after the World Cup. So let us have a look at the World Cup stars who might attract interest from the German Champions.
Cristian Pavon
Argentina endured a disastrous World Cup campaign as they were knocked out by France in the round of 16. The South American team were not convincing in any of their group games despite the amount of attacking talent they possessed. Cristian Pavon was part of this exciting group of Argentine attacking players.
Pavon didn’t impress a whole lot for Argentina, as his gametime was limited under Jorge Sampaoli. His best performance came in the second half cameo against Nigeria. The 22-year-old can play across the front line, but he is most comfortable on the right flank.
Pavon is an astute dribbler and can cause havoc in the final third with his direct play. His link-up play with the full-back is slick but his crossing can be a bit wayward. Pavon enjoyed a terrific ’17-18 season with Boca Juniors as he scored seven goals and assisted 11 others in all competitions.
The right winger is still a raw talent, but can be a world beater if he works under a good coach. Bayern Munich need a player who can provide width on the right side. Arjen Robben was handed a new one year deal but it is becoming the right time for the German champions to replace the Dutchman. Pavon is a decent bet for the Bavarians, and he is likely to get better by learning from the likes of Robben and Franck Ribery. There is already a lot of interest in the Argentine, but Bayern Munich could still get him for a reasonable price in this inflated transfer market.
William Carvalho
Portugal also ended their World Cup campaign in the round of 16 stage as they suffered a 2-1 defeat against Uruguay on Saturday. Cristiano Ronaldo stole the headlines for Portugal after scoring four goals in as many games. Apart from Ronaldo, William Carvalho also shone for the his country. The defensive midfielder produced consistent performances throughout the tournament. Carvalho also played a pivotal role for Portugal in their 2016 Euro triumph.
Carvalho primarily operates in the defensive midfield position, but he can also operate as a more advanced central-midfielder. He has been a vital player for Sporting Lisbon in the past few years. The 26-year-old midfielder is now ready to make a big move to further his career.
Carvalho lacks pace, but his clever positioning helps him shield the back four. Moreover, his tall frame allows him to win many aerial duels in midfield. The Portugal international has a tidy passing range which allows him to dictate play from deeper position.
Bayern Munich are stacked in the midfield department, but they only have two proper defensive midfielders in Javi Martinez and Sebastian Rudy. Martinez has a poor injury record and needs to be managed well. Meanwhile, there has been a lot of speculation surrounding the future of Rudy. If Rudy departs in the summer, then Carvalho would be a fine addition to the squad. He might not start every game for Bayern, but over the season he can play a crucial role. Not to mention that he is a free agent this summer, as he has terminated his contract with Sporting.
Aleksandr Golovin
Russia has exceeded everyone’s expectations at the World Cup. The hosts are set to face Croatia in the quarterfinals after defeating Spain in the round of 16. Aleksandr Golovin has played a major role in the resurgence of Russia in this tournament. The 22-year-old midfielder delivered a tenacious midfield display against the Spaniards on Sunday. Golovin will not be short of offers after such impressive displays for the host nation.
Golovin is generally deployed in the center of the park. He is an attacking midfielder who has an eye for both goals and assists. He scored five goals and assisted four from an attacking-midfield role for CSKA Moscow last season. Golovin has assisted two goals and scored one goal for Russia in the World Cup. He can play in a three man midfield in which he can play in both number ten and number eight role. Golovin has also occasionally played on the left wing for Russia and CSKA Moscow to decent effect.
The future of Thiago Alcantara will soon be sorted now that Spain have exited the tournament. Bayern Munich might sell the Spaniard along with Arturo Vidal this summer. Golovin is not exactly at the same level as Thiago in terms of quality, but the young Russian can be nurtured into a top midfielder. His age also perfectly fits Bayern’s current policy of buying young players rather than proven stars.
The Bavarians will face stiff competition for Golovin, though, as both Chelsea and Juventus have reportedly started talking to CSKA Moscow. The Russian club reportedly wants a fee in excess of €25 million for the midfielder.
Benjamin Pavard
France are one of the few favorites left in the 2018 World Cup. Les Bleus delivered a solid performance against Argentina in their round of 16 clash. Though it was Kylian Mbappe who stole the show, Benjamin Pavard scored the best goal of the game with a brilliant volley from the edge of the box. Pavard came into tournament as a back-up center-back, who can also play on the right of defense. However, an injury to Dijbril Sidibe has forced Didier Deschamps to deploy Pavard in the right-back role.
The Stuttgart youngster has primarily featured as a right-back for the French team but his preferred position is in the heart of defense, where he became a breakout star this season in the Bundesliga.
Pavard is a calm and composed center-back. He is comfortable on the ball and has the plenty of pace to make recovery tackles. His consistent displays for Stuttgart were rewarded with a call-up to the French senior team last year. Despite being less adventurous while going ahead, Pavard has done an excellent job for France in the right-back position, solidifying his place in the squad.
Bayern Munich have already been linked with a move for Benjamin Pavard. It has been suggested in German reports that he could replace Jerome Boateng. However, the Bavarians are unlikely to sell Jerome Boateng as there have been no totally convincing offers for the German defender. If Niko Kovac decides to stick with his favored three-man defense at Bayern, then signing Pavard will make a lot of sense. Along with Niklas Sule, Pavard can potentially form a solid center-back partnership at Bayern Munich for years to come.
Hirving Lozano
Mexico stunned Germany in their first World Cup group game, overcoming the reigning champions 1-0. This defeat started the downfall of the German team, who eventually finished last in Group F. Hirving Lozano scored the winner for Mexico against Germany. The 22-year-old winger tormented the German defense with his directness and pace in the final third. Lozano was also crucial for Mexico in their win over South Korea, which allowed them to finish second in the group.
Lozano was one of the best players in Eredivisie last season. His brilliant performances helped PSV Eindhoven win the league title. He scored 19 goals across all competitions for the Dutch Champions.
Lozano is a versatile forward and can effectively play anywhere across the front three. He causes a lot of problems in the final third with his pace and trickery. His movement in the box allows him to get into great goal-scoring positions. Besides being a skillfull forward, Lozano has an immense work ethic, as he tends to track back and help his full-back defensively when the team is under pressure.
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Barcelona have already shown interest in the Mexican forward, and he will attract interest from other European clubs after a solid World Cup campaign for Mexico. Bayern Munich are reportedly not looking for a wide player, but a player like Lozano is too good to miss out on. The Mexican would complete Bayern’s attack, as they would have perfect mix of youth and experience on both flanks. Moreover, he would not cost too much money compared to other young attacking players.