The summer transfer window was extremely productive for Bayern Munich. After looking for stop-gap options in key areas over the last two years, Die Roten managed to invest heavily to get top-quality talent. The Bavarian club made additions in key outfield areas to make the squad competitive in all competitions.
Some of the signings have hit the ground running, while some are taking time to settle into the new environment. Sadio Mane and Matthijs de Ligt were the two high-profile arrivals, deals that very few fans expected Bayern to complete at the start of the window.
Along with Mane and de Ligt, Bayern has also managed to add some quality young players in Ryan Gravenberch and Mattys Tel. Noussair Mazraoui was a smart signing on a free transfer to address the right-back position. All five signings are likely to contribute heavily to the club’s success in the present and future.
After years of criticism, Hasan Salihamidzic has delivered big this summer to make Die Roten more competitive against other big clubs in Europe. While talking to The Athletic this week, Salihamidzic explained the club’s squad planning and how Die Roten is an attractive proposition for top players.
"“The core of our group is in their mid-20s. We have a few youngsters and not too many over-30s in the squad. We have a very good age structure. That makes us sexy for many of the players who we tried to get on the transfer market.”“They think in terms of the next three-to-five years. They take a look at the way the squad is put together, in terms of quality, mentality, positional flexibility, and age structure.”"
Along with getting the right players to strengthen the squad, Bayern did a great job with departures. Salihamidzic highlighted the importance of getting a good fee for players that were surplus to Bayern’s needs. Eventually, Die Roten ended up raising more than €100 million from player sales.
Salihamidzic and Bayern also deserve credit for getting the best possible fee for Robert Lewandowski. The Bavarian club rejected at least three bids from Barcelona for the Polish striker. They eventually ended up agreeing to a fee worth €50 million for the 33-year-old prolific striker.
After spearheading a productive transfer window for Die Roten, Hasan Salihamidzic was awarded a contract renewal by the club. The former Bayern midfielder will remain the club’s Sporting Director for at least three more years.
Want your voice heard? Join the Bayern Strikes team!
Bayern’s start to the season has been mixed as they are adapting to a system where there is no traditional number nine. Sadio Mane and Mathys Tel will try to fill the void left by the Polish striker, while other forwards will have to step up with more goals. Salihamidzic will certainly look for a number nine next summer, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane top of the list for this position. It is a complicated transfer, but Die Roten has set a high benchmark for next summer after a good window this year.