Bayern Munich want Benfica winger Jota, not Nicolas Pepe
Bayern Munich are reportedly more interested in signing 20-year-old Benfica winger Jota than Lille’s Nicolas Pepe.
The 2018-19 season is winding down to a close, and Bayern Munich have the opportunity to take a big step toward retaining their Bundesliga title when they take on Nurnberg later today. Arjen Robben is in the first team squad for the first time in several months, but his long-standing partner in crime Franck Ribery will miss the match with illness.
The two pieces of Robbery have only featured together in a starting lineup on a handful of occasions this season, most recently in Bayern’s Champions League clash against Benfica in November — which was also the last match Arjen Robben played.
Interestingly, it is now toward Benfica that Bayern Munich are reportedly turning to find one piece of their Robbery succession plan. Portuguese newspapers Record and O Bola both report that the Bavarians have shown interest in Benfica’s 20-year-old wide man Joao “Jota” Felipe (via SportWitness).
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Bild and Sport Bild chief soccer reporter Christian Falk has also picked up on the rumor. He confirmed that Bayern really are interested in the young winger, who has a €30 million release clause.
According to Falk, Die Roten have taken a significant step back in their interest of Lille forward Nicolas Pepe. As of now, Bayern are likely not to make a move for the Ivorian in the summer transfer window. He also shut down any suggestion that the Bavarians could be in for Manchester City’s Leroy Sane this summer, and confirmed they have not given up hope of signing Chelsea starlet Callum Hudson-Odoi.
This is not the first time Bayern Munich have been linked with Jota. It was reported just over a month ago that the club sent scouts to watch the youngster play for Benfica against Dinamo Zagreb in the Europa League.
Jota represents an interesting option for Bayern Munich. He’s only 20, so he has plenty of room to develop, but it’d be unrealistic to expect him to genuinely contend for a place in the starting lineup immediately. Nicolas Pepe, on the other hand, would be a strong contender for a starting position.
A move for Jota would confirm that Bayern see Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry as their best options on the wings. It could also mean they expect more experienced players like Thomas Muller, and perhaps even Timo Werner, to contribute in the wide areas as well.
dark. Next. Bayern Munich still want Callum Hudson-Odoi despite his injury
Should they sign the 20-year-old, and their apparent number one target Callum Hudson-Odoi, Bayern would have plenty of young talent in the wide areas (throw in 18-year-old Alphonso Davies as well). What they would have in talent, however, they would lack in experience.