Bayern Munich show interest in Villarreal midfielder Pablo Fornals
Bayern Munich have reportedly joined the list of clubs interested in signing Pablo Fornals from Villareal.
Bayern Munich have started their rebuilding process, with a few veteran players already making clear their future plans. This week Rafinha announced his intention to leave Bavaria at the end of the season. Arjen Robben has also confirmed his departure, while Franck Ribery seems to also finally be accepting that this is his last season in Munich.
Bayern are focusing on bringing in younger players to replace their departing veterans. They will mainly focus on wide players and defenders in the upcoming transfer windows.
Bayern might also look for a new holding midfielder, as they are reportedly ready to offload Javi Martinez. The attacking midfield position is well occupied, as both James Rodriguez and Thomas Muller share the duties of playing behind the striker. There are doubts about James’ future at the club, though, and if he decides to move in the summer, then Bayern will have to look for his replacement.
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According to a report in El Confidencial, Bayern have joined the list of clubs that are interested in signing Pablo Fornals from Villareal. His performances have been one of the few positives in an otherwise disappointing relegation battle for the Yellow Submarine. Fornals reportedly has a release clause in the region of €26 million.
This low release clause is likely to attract the attention of numerous clubs. West Ham, Arsenal and Barcelona are also mentioned in the report as Bayern’s competition for the 22-year-old’s signature. If Villarreal are relegated to the second division, then a sale of Fornals in the summer is pretty certain.
The player is primarily an attacking midfielder that can fill in on the left and right side of the attack when needed. He can also play in a deeper role as he has the vision and passing range to dictate the game from deep. Fornals has scored three goals and assisted three more across all competitions this season. The Spaniard is still a raw talent, but he has the potential to be a top player for a big European side.
Bayern Munich have also been heavily linked with a move for Kai Havertz in the summer transfer window. The German international is a superior talent than Fornals, but their style of play is pretty similar. Fornals is likely to be the backup option for Bayern if they fail to sign Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen. But the signing of either player would likely indicate the club’s intention to move on from James Rodriguez.