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Report: Bayern Munich tracking OGC Nice full-back Youcef Atal

By Kiran Thakare

Nice's Algerian defender Youcef Atal celebrates afte scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Nice (OGCN) and Strasbourg (RCSA) on March 3, 2019, at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, southeastern France. (Photo by VALERY HACHE / AFP) (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images)
Nice's Algerian defender Youcef Atal celebrates afte scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Nice (OGCN) and Strasbourg (RCSA) on March 3, 2019, at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, southeastern France. (Photo by VALERY HACHE / AFP) (Photo credit should read VALERY HACHE/AFP/Getty Images) /
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Bayern Munich is one of a few top European clubs reportedly keeping a close eye on OGC Nice’s young Algerian full-back Youcef Atal.

Bayern Munich’s defense has been their Achilles’ heel this season. Die Roten have dropped numerous points in the Bundesliga this campaign due to their poor defending. They have wasted little time addressing this weakness, though, by acquiring the signings of Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard for next season. It remains to be seen whether the Bavarians will make further additions to the defensive department of their squad

According to the Daily Telegraph, Bayern Munich are keeping a close eye on OGC Nice’s Youcef Atal. The report insists that the Algerian full-back will cost at least in the region of €35- 40 million.

The Bavarians would face competition from Atletico Madrid and Chelsea for the signing of the 22-year-old. Nice have no intentions to sell the player this summer, but a big offer might tempt them to consider a sale.

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Atal is primarily a right-back, but he has also played as a winger for Nice this season. He has made a very good impression with consistent performances during his debut season in Ligue 1. The Algerian defender has scored six goals in the French league, but all of these have come when he has played as a winger (including a hat-trick from left wing this past weekend). He surely has the potential to become one of the best full-backs in Europe in the next few seasons if he continues to develop as rapidly as he has in recent seasons.

Bayern Munich will have only two traditional full-backs in the first team squad this summer. David Alaba and Joshua Kimmich are the undisputed first-choice players at left-back and right-back, respectively. Rafinha, meanwhile, is set to leave in the summer and will likely join Flamengo after spending eight years at Bayern.

Pavard and Hernandez filled in the full-back positions for France at the World Cup. The Frenchmen were both impressive at the tournament, but they are at their best in central defense. Hernandez continued to play at left-back for Atletico Madrid this season, but Pavard has remained a central defender for VfB Stuttgart for the past two years. The French duo will primarily be central defenders at Bayern, but they will also provide depth on the outside of defense.

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Atal surely is a talented full-back, but he will require regular game time in order to continue his development. He will struggle to find adequate minutes on the pitch at Bayern, so staying at Nice is the best option for him right now. A move to Bayern this summer would only be justified if Niko Kovac plans to permanently shift Joshua Kimmich into midfield.

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