Niklas Sule
Jerome Boateng has been heavily linked with a transfer away from Bayern Munich throughout the summer, as the club are reportedly ready to sell their experienced center-back. However, his departure has become a complicated procedure, and he looks set to stay at Bayern for at least one more season. Either way, Niklas Sule could soon be the preferred partner for Mats Hummels in central defense, if he isn’t already.
Sule enjoyed a very good debut season for Bayern. While Boateng struggled with injuries and Jupp Heynckes preferred Javi Martinez in midfield, Sule got plenty of gametime in his first season in Bavaria.
The 22-year-old is solid in the air and an excellent ball winner. Sule is also efficient on the ball as he registered a 93% pass accuracy in the Bundesliga last season. He didn’t lose his cool in the big games, either. In fact, he utterly impressed nearly every time he was called upon. Sule’s best performance came against Real Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League. Bayern lost the tie, but Sule showed all the qualities that make him one of the best young center-backs in Europe.
Sule is a fantastic young defender, and Bayern are lucky to have him in the squad. There are still some small weaknesses in Sule’s game, but this could be the season where he reaches a new level. Moreover, he has the ideal partner in Mats Hummels to rectify the weaker aspects of his game. Boateng is on a steady decline right now, so this season could be the right time for Sule to take over the mantle and become the main man in Bayern’s defense.