Bayern Munich: Julian Nagelsmann pushing for a new center-back
After a disappointing season in cup competitions, Bayern Munich will be eager to improve the squad to bounce back strongly next season. The Bavarian club needs new additions to improve the squad depth, while a few transfers will be needed to replace the departing senior players.
Niklas Sule is one of the senior players that is leaving in the summer. The German international rejected the contract extension from Die Roten and decided to leave on a free transfer in June. He is set to play for the club’s arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund from next season.
As soon as Sule’s departure was announced at the start of 2022, Die Roten was linked with several center-backs. The Bavarian club had identified Chelsea’s Andreas Christensen as the top target to replace Sule, but the Danish defender opted for a move to Barcelona over Bavaria.
After losing out on Christensen, several reports in Germany have suggested that Rekordmeister will not be signing a center-back in the summer. The Bavarian club plans to use Benjamin Pavard in central defense regularly from next season, while a new right-back is set to arrive in the summer.
However, Julian Nagelsmann is still eager to add a center-back to the squad. According to TZ (via iMiaSanMia), the German coach is looking for a defender who can straightaway replace Sule in the summer. He wants an experienced defender that can be a leader on and off the pitch for him.
Julian Nagelsmann wants a new centre-back that fills the gap left by Niklas Süle and can directly take on a leadership role on the pitch [@kessler_philipp, @menzellopez, @tzmuenchen]
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) May 3, 2022
Apart from Christensen, Antonio Rudiger and Matthias Ginter also reportedly featured on the list of center-back targets for Die Roten. However, the Bavarian club can no longer sign these German defenders. Rudiger is set to join Real Madrid, while Ginter has sealed a move back to Freiburg.
It remains to be seen which center-back Die Roten will target that will fit the profile Nagelsmann wants. The German club has been lately linked with Ajax defender Jurrien Timber, but he will be more like a signing for the future. The Bavarian club may like to sign a younger defender, but Nagelsmann is currently looking for an experienced one.
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Meanwhile, it does look certain that a new right-back will be arriving in Bavaria during the summer transfer window. The German club has identified Ajax’s Noussair Mazraoui to be the first choice right-back for next season. Despite late interest from Manchester United, Die Roten remains in the driving seat to sign the Moroccan defender. The German champions are also expected to sign a midfielder, while a new forward may become a priority if Serge Gnabry/Robert Lewandowski leaves in the summer.