The Champions League and Bundesliga titles are the clear targets for Bayern Munich during the second half of the season. While the coaching staff and players will be working to achieve these objectives, there is work to be done for the transfer committee for contract renewals and identifying transfer targets for the next summer transfer window.
The Bavarian club is expected to be busy next summer since they may have to address midfield, right-back, and attacking positions. Die Roten may have to add a center-back to the list of transfer targets for next summer if the recent developments reported by German media are true.
According to Sky Sports in Germany, Niklas Sule is as good as gone in the summer transfer window on a free transfer. The German international doesn’t feel appreciated at the club, which is likely to make sure that he decides against signing a new contract.
Sule will be free to discuss a pre-contract agreement with interested clubs in January. The German international has been linked with Chelsea and Newcastle United in the past few months. However, his good form this season will make sure that more top clubs will be in the queue for his signature.
Die Roten previously had doubts about handing a new deal to Niklas Sule since he was struggling for form and fitness in the last couple of seasons. However, the arrival of Julian Nagelsmann has helped Sule to get back to his best. The German coach is also reportedly eager to see Sule extend his contract and keep getting better.
The Bavarian club had delayed contract talks with Sule until winter but recently decided to begin negotiations with the defender. The German international has been keeping all options open. Previously, it has been revealed that Sule tried unsuccessfully to engineer a move to Premier League in the past. Next summer provides him an opportunity to move to England.
The departure of Sule on a free transfer is a big blow for Die Roten. He has been the best center-back for the club this season, and he is entering the prime years of his career, so there are more downsides than upsides of his departures. From a financial point of view, losing a young international center-back to potentially one of the European rivals is bad business for Rekordmeister.
Sule’s departure may force Rekordmeister to look for a center-back in the market. Antonio Rudiger has been linked with a move to Bavaria since the start of the season. Similar to Sule, Rudiger can also join on a free transfer in the summer transfer window. Apart from signing one central defender, Die Roten could also move Benjamin Pavard in the heart of the defense and sign a new attacking right-back. Nevertheless, there is some thinking to do for Hasan Salihamidzic in the next few months to fill the void left by Niklas Sule.