Dietmar Hamann urges Bayern Munich to sign Ajax’s Donny van de Beek

Former German midfielder Dietmar Hamann believes that Ajax’s Donny van de Beek would be a perfect summer signing for Bayern Munich.

Bayern Munich are set to make a number of squad additions this summer. Both defense and attack have been discussed as the areas where the German club needs to upgrade their options the most. Die Roten have taken massive steps in improving their defense already by signing Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez, while numerous players have been linked for the attacking positions.

There have been very fewer reports linking midfielders to Bayern. The Bavarians perhaps do need at least one world class addition in that area, though, in order to go toe-to-toe with Europe’s top clubs in the Champions League. In his column for Sky Sports (via Sport Bild), Dietmar Hamann has advised his former club to look at Ajax’s Donny van de Beek in order to improve their midfield. The former German midfielder believes the Dutchman has all the right qualities to be a top midfielder.

"“As far as the players of this great team are concerned, besides Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt, I also see great potential in Donny van de Beek.“He too could be one for Bayern. Huge running pace, strong with and without ball.”"

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Van de Beek has been one of the key players in Ajax’s impressive run in the Champions League this season. The Dutch international primarily plays the role of a box-to-box midfielder in the current system at Ajax. He has a good knack for scoring goals by arriving late in the box, and his movement off the ball is pivotal for the Dutch side to execute their free-flowing football.

The 22-year-old midfielder scored the all-important away goal in the semi-final against Tottenham earlier this week. The Dutchman has scored 15 goals and assisted 11 more for Ajax across all competitions this season (stats via WhoScored). His impressive performances at club level have also made him an important player for the Netherlands.

There is no doubt that Van de Beek is a terrific midfielder, but he is not exactly a player the current Bayern Munich squad needs. Niko Kovac admitted last month that Bayern currently lacks a world-class defensive midfielder that can stamp his authority in big European games. Javi Martinez is on the wrong side of 30 right now so he cannot be a long term option for Die Roten in that position, but Van de Beek would not serve as a realistic replacement for him.

A move for Van de Beek would only make sense if Kovac plans to use Joshua Kimmich or Thiago Alcantara exclusively in the holding midfield role next season. The Ajax midfielder would then have the chance to play in the number eight role, while Leon Goretzka would more often be used in the number ten role. Given that several top European clubs have shown interest in Van de Beek, it’s unlikely Bayern will enter into a bidding war to sign a player they don’t necessarily need.