Bayern Munich: Omar Richards could be in line for early debut
Bayern Munich suffered two big injury blows in the last few days. After the elimination of France from Euro 2020, Lucas Hernandez underwent surgery for a knee surgery he sustained in the tournament. Meanwhile, Alphonso Davies has been ruled out for Gold Cup due to an ankle injury.
As per the latest report from Kicker, Hernandez is likely to miss the start of the season since he will need six weeks to recover from this injury. The German club is yet to confirm the period for which Davies will be ruled out due to ankle injury as he returns to Munich for recovery.
In the wake of these two injuries, Sky Sports in Germany is reporting that Nagelsmann is likely to hand Bundesliga debut to new signing Omar Richards against Borussia Monchengladbach in August. Richards has been training at Sabner Strasse this week after completing a free transfer from Reading FC earlier this summer.
The young defender has been brought into the squad to provide competition to Davies. Omar Richards has primarily played in the left-back/left wing-back role for Reading. He will straightaway slot in this position against Monchengladbach.
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What will be first Bayern XI in Bundesliga under Nagelsmann?
The goalkeeper selection is very straightforward for Nagelsmann. Unless there is an injury issue, Manuel Neuer will start in the first league game of the season. Dayot Upamecano and Nianzou Kouassi will be getting a complete pre-season, so they are likely to start in the central defense.
With injuries to Hernandez and Davies, Nagelsmann may opt for four-man defense in the first game with Benjamin Pavard and Omar Richards as full-backs. In the midfield, Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka will form the pivot. Nagelsmann will be hoping that the contract situation of Goretzka is sorted by the time the first league game of the season arrives.
Thomas Muller will be used in the number ten role with Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry slotting on either flank. Robert Lewandowski will lead the line for Die Roten after Nagelsmann reportedly granted him a long break to be recharged completed for the new season.
"NeuerPavard-Upamecano-Kouassi-RichardsKimmich-GoretzkaGnabry-Muller-ComanLewandowski"
Next. Three transfer targets for Bayern from Euro 2020. dark
When the likes of Hernandez and Davies return, it will not be a surprise to see a back three defense at Die Roten. Hernandez will be the left-footed center-back in this system, while Davies will be the wing-back on the same side. Nageslmann will be hoping that Die Roten signs a right wing-back to strengthen options in defense.