Bayern Strikes
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Bayern Munich: Takeaways from first half of the season

By Kiran Thakare

MUENCHEN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 21: Players of FC Bayern Muenchen celebrate after scoring a goal at the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and VfL Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena on December 21, 2019 in Muenchen, Germany. (Photo by Franz Kirchmayr/SEPA.Media /Getty Images)
MUENCHEN, GERMANY - DECEMBER 21: Players of FC Bayern Muenchen celebrate after scoring a goal at the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and VfL Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena on December 21, 2019 in Muenchen, Germany. (Photo by Franz Kirchmayr/SEPA.Media /Getty Images) /
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MUNICH, GERMANY – DECEMBER 21: Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Muenchen plays the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and VfL Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena on December 21, 2019, in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Bongarts/Getty Images)
MUNICH, GERMANY – DECEMBER 21: Joshua Kimmich of Bayern Muenchen plays the ball during the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and VfL Wolfsburg at Allianz Arena on December 21, 2019, in Munich, Germany. (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Bongarts/Getty Images) /

Joshua Kimmich should permanently move to midfield

Bayern Munich were eager to add a holding midfielder to their squad last summer. Marc Roca was the prime transfer target for this position, but the transfer didn’t materialize. Die Roten went on to sign Mickael Cuisance, dynamic central midfielder, from Borussia Monchengladbach to replace Renato Sanches.

At the start of the season, Benjamin Pavard was free to start in the right-back role, allowing Niko Kovac to use Joshua Kimmich to play in the number six role. Kimmich hardly disappointed and provided a great balance to the starting XI. He became a reliable performer for Bayern in this position throughout the first half of the season.

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Bayern should look to permanently move Kimmich in midfield. He had insane productivity in the right-back position, but his delightful passing range is better used in midfield. The German also plays the same role for the national team, so there will be a great level of continuity and clarity for him at club and country level if Die Roten continues to utilize him in midfield.

Having said that, there is a great scope of improvement in Kimmich’s midfield game. He needs to polish the defensive side of his game. The improvement in his game will be seen when he gets to play in this position every week. For the time being, Bayern should look for a right-back as it will allow Kimmich can be the solution to their defensive midfield problems.