Bayern Munich yet to make decision on future of Chris Richards

Chris Richards could start season with Bayern Munich. (Photo by Michael Titgemeyer/Getty Images for DFB)
Chris Richards could start season with Bayern Munich. (Photo by Michael Titgemeyer/Getty Images for DFB) /
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Bayern Munich is looking to sort out loan deals for young players in the coming week after senior players reported back for training. Chris Richards was also in line for a loan move away from the club, but Die Roten is yet to make a final decision on his immediate future.

According to Kicker (via iMiaSanMia),  Hoffenheim is eager to bring Richards back to the club on a loan deal or permanent transfer. However, Bayern Munich is yet to make a final decision, which could see Richards starting the season in Bavaria.

Previously, it was reported in the German media that injuries to Lucas Hernandez and Alphonso Davies could delay the move to Hoffenheim for Richards. The youngster has featured for Die Roten in all four pre-season friendlies in the last three weeks. At the start of pre-season training, he was carrying a knock, but he recovered in time to play all games.

Richards might be open for a loan move back to Hoffenheim after getting a lot of playing time in the second half of last season. The young defender did get few games under Hansi Flick before the winter break, but the club allowed him to go out on loan to Hoffenheim in January to continue his development.

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Chris Richards will face a lot of competition in the heart of defense at Die Roten. Dayot Upamecano is certain to start in central defense after sealing a big-money move from RB Leipzig in July. Lucas Hernandez and Niklas Sule are other senior defenders, while Nianzou Kouassi is set to play a lot this season after struggling with injuries in his debut season.

The only way Richards could get adequate playing time in Bavaria is by competing with Benjamin Pavard and Bouna Sarr in the right-back position. The youngster played in this position for a couple of games under Flick last season. It may not be his natural position, but he can do a decent job in this position.

In the grand scheme of things, a loan move would be much better for Richards than staying in Bavaria. The player would have benefitted from pre-season with Hoffenheim, but injuries and the absence of senior players in Bavaria scuppered those plans.

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Chris Richards is rated highly at Bayern, so the club should decide against keeping him this season to get long-term returns from the players. A year of consistent playing time in the Bundesliga will benefit all parties.