Bayern Munich: What next after arrival of Sadio Mane?
The transfer window has started in the best possible way for Bayern Munich. The Bavarian club has managed to bring a positive conclusion to the long-drawn talks with Ryan Gravenberch and Noussair Mazraoui. The former arrived from Ajax on a transfer fee, while the latter left the Dutch club to join Die Roten on a free transfer.
The biggest deal of the window for Die Roten was also completed on Wednesday. The Bavarian club unveiled the signing of Sadio Mane. Bayern had reached an agreement over a transfer fee with Liverpool last week. Mane will make Die Roten an even dangerous outfit in the final third.
Despite concluding three deals early in the summer, there is still a considerable amount of work to do for Bayern Munich. Let us look at the areas where there could be further additions in the next couple of months.
Midfield
Gravenberch will bring more quality and depth to Bayern’s midfield. The Dutch midfielder will take up the place of Marc Roca in the first-team squad. The Spanish midfielder recently completed a permanent move to Leeds United.
Despite having several midfield options, Die Roten doesn’t have depth in the number six position. Joshua Kimmich is the first choice option for this role, but the upcoming season will be challenging due to World Cup in November, so Bayern needs more depth.
The Bavarian club is interested in RB Leipzig’s Konrad Laimer. Leipzig is reportedly not keen on selling one more player to Bayern, so negotiations are set to be challenging. Laimer is likely to be the last addition to the midfield department this summer.
Defense
The defensive personnel at Bayern have been weakened after the departure of Niklas Sule. The German defender rejected a contract offer from the Bavarian club and chose to join Borussia Dortmund on a free transfer. Die Roten was linked with several center-backs at the start of 2022, but things have gone quiet in the last couple of months.
Benjamin Pavard will be playing regularly in the heart of defense due to the arrival of Mazraoui. Julian Nagelsmann remains keen on adding a central defender, but the club may look for a new central defender if Tanguy Nianzou fails to impress the German coach during the pre-season. He could be loaned out to open up a space for a new defender. A move for a central defender could take place late in the window.
Attack
The situation in the attacking department of the squad is slightly complicated. Bayern has bolstered the attack by signing Sadio Mane, but they are also in danger of losing two crucial players this summer.
Robert Lewandowski is agitating for a move to Barcelona. The coming weeks will decide his fate as Die Roten remains determined to keep him. If he ends up leaving Bavaria, Bayern will need a new striker. Considering how difficult the market is for top-quality strikers, it will be a big challenge for the German Champions.
Rekordmeister may also have to sign a winger before the end of the transfer window. Serge Gnabry has entered the final year of his contract. He will decide his future after coming back from vacation. If he decides against signing a new deal, then Die Roten will be forced to sell him. In such a scenario, another wide player will be needed to replace him.
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Despite completing three deals early in the summer, there is a good chance that Bayern could add at least three more by the end of the transfer window. With players returning for pre-season in July, there will be more clarity on arrivals and departures.