Bayern Munich have been heavily linked with German players, but which player is most likely to end up at the club?
There is the elephant in the room of the COVID-19 virus that has completely halted the soccer world. This suspension is potentially going to affect some major financial decisions regarding transfers. However, let us discuss transfers for Bayern Munich in summer if normality resumes by July 1st.
In recent years, Bayern Munich have been forced to revitalize their squad due to several players retiring and getting on the wrong side of 30. The board needed statement signings last summer, and they managed to do that to an extent.
The team brought in defenders Benjamin Pavard, Lucas Hernandez, and Jann Fiete Arp on permanent transfers, while Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Perisic on one-year loans with the option to buy. These loans were only stop-gap measures to get the team through the next year until they could take make permanent transfers in those positions in the summer of 2020.
Well, the summer of 2020 is upon everyone, and Bayern have not escaped the rumor mill when it comes to transfers. The positions in which Bayern signed players on loan were in the attacking areas, so naturally, most reports have been about attackers.
Since Bayern have made an effort to sign young German players in the past, three young Germans have been heavily rumored to be in discussions with Die Roten. Those players are winger Leroy Sane from Manchester City, attacking midfielder Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen, and center forward Timo Werner from RB Leipzig. This article will look at why each player is linked to Bayern and then conclude on who or whom the team should sign.
Leroy Sane
Last spring, there was a rumor floated around that Leroy Sane was unhappy with his club Manchester City due to a lack of playing time and could potentially want to leave. Enter Bayern Munich in the picture. The club was losing its star two wingers in Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery and needed to replace them. Sporting Director Hasan Salihamidzic decided to pursue Sane to be the “replacement” for the two Bayern legends.
The transfer almost happened until Sane tore his ACL in the Community Shield match in late August. Then, the idea was that Bayern would wait until Sane recovered, and approach Man City to buy him when he is fit, potentially in the winter window. A transfer didn’t take place in winter, so the summer is the next opportunity to complete it.
Looking at Sane specifically, he is an electrifying player. Playing primarily on the left side for City, his combination of speed and dribbling skills is world-class. Combine these abilities with his shooting ability, he is a lethal player, and worthy of Bayern Munich. Due to the injury, he hasn’t played this season, but in the two seasons prior, he had scored 20 goals and racked up 25 assists in the Premier League.
Sane is a game-changer, but due to Pep Guardiola‘s coaching methods, he doesn’t get the special treatment he would get at most other clubs. Guardiola uses a lot of experimentation and rotation in his lineups, which doesn’t fit well with players who want to start every match. There could also be an element of missing Germany, missing home. Coming through the Schalke youth system and then leaving abroad could lead to the player missing home.
In terms of adaptability at Bayern, he would fit in perfectly at the left-wing. Kingsley Coman typically starts there, but given his form, it is no question that Sane would start ahead of him. He could fit in both a 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 and would be a major upgrade for the squad.
Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz, on paper, is perfect for Bayern Munich. Coach Hansi Flick’s preferred formation is a 4-2-3-1, and since Havertz is an attacking midfielder, he would slot in immediately. He’s a young German talent who is already making first-team contributions to the German national team.
Moreover, there’s the unfortunate reality for Bayern fans that Thomas Muller is approaching the wrong side of 30 very quickly. Muller’s game isn’t predicated on speed and physical ability, but age gets the better of everybody, and Havertz is a decade younger. Havertz and Muller both play the same position, so for Bayern, this looks to be a great transfer.
Havertz is a player with great vision and incredible technical ability. His ability to find a pass or dribble past players to create space is outstanding. Statistically, this season has been a let down for Havertz. Six goals and five assists in the Bundesliga are low relative to his 17 goals and three assists in the 2018/2019 season. This season’s numbers are a little troubling as he starts every game, and the key player of Leverkusen, but that hasn’t hindered coach Hansi Flick’s interest. Flick reportedly admires the player and wants him on the roster next fall.
In a 4-2-3-1 system, Havertz fits in perfectly, but that is the only position he fits in with proof. If Flick persists with this formation, then this isn’t a problem. However, if Flick switches to a 4-3-3, then Havertz will be playing out of position. The player is also rumored to cost over €100 million. Is that too much for a player who is having a down year and can only play one position?
Timo Werner
Timo Werner has probably been the most discussed non-Bayern player by Bayern fans over the past three seasons. When RB Leipzig made the jump to the first division in 2016, they shocked the League and had Timo Werner leading the front line.
Since then, there have been rumors flying around that Bayern would eventually buy Werner. This has caused some heated discussions due to the differences in his and Bayern’s playing style. Werner is a player who likes to get behind the defense and cause trouble on the run, whereas Bayern like a player who can hold up play and then play the ball to wingers in behind the defense.
Over the past three years, these rumors haven’t slowed, and Werner himself even occasionally mentioned his desire to join the Bavarians. Salihamidzic, though, has mentioned his desire to bring in someone else, thus these prolonged rumors.
This season though, Werner is having his best season as a pro bagging 21 goals and seven assists in the Bundesliga. This equals his previous season-high, and there are still several games to go. He has provided competition for Bayern’s Robert Lewandowski in the race for both the League title and the scoring title.
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It has been a long time since Lewy has had competition for that honor. Werner’s pace, combined with his finishing ability is elite, so he has the potential to become the best striker in the world. Hansi Flick reportedly likes Werner, and he has advocated for his arrival in Bavaria.
The problem here is the fit. He is very capable of playing as a lone striker, as he does it at Leipzig. However, their playing style is very different from Bayern’s. As stated above, Bayern need a striker who can hold up play, win balls out of the air, and then play on other attackers. Werner hasn’t played in a system where that is the style, and that has caused issues for Bayern’s front office. It has also caused problems for Flick, and Salihamidzic who seem to be at odds over these three players.
Verdict
Based on playing style and stats, I would prefer Bayern signing both Kai Havertz and Timo Werner. As much as I would love to have Leroy Sane and would still be excited if he was the player Bayern bought, he is not what Bayern need at the moment.
For wingers, Bayern have Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry, and both players are starting material for Bayern. Bringing in Sane would relegate one of them to the bench. There has been discontent amongst Bayern fans about Coman, so many fans want the club should sell Coman because he underperforms. However, young players are bound to be inconsistent. Ribery and Robben were inconsistent when they were in their early 20’s. It wasn’t until years later that they became legends.
Coman still has time to become that, and Gnabry is currently on an upward trajectory in his career. Also, there are rumors that Bayern will pick up the option to sign Perisic in summer, who understands his role as a backup. The Croatian winger is capable of making an instant impact from the bench.
In terms of Werner and Havertz, Bayern need a striker to develop for the situation when Lewandowski retires or leaves; and the same applies for Havertz. The important term here is versatility. Werner prefers to play striker but has played on the wing before, so it would allow him to play with Lewandowski. Havertz is young enough to potentially develop as a decent winger or midfielder.
We’ve seen other young players develop, and adapt well to new positions, so why not Havertz? Of these three players, Bayern should buy Werner and Havertz. As much as Bayern fans would love to see Sane in red, it doesn’t make sense adding him this summer since Die Roten will be better served with having two versatile players.