The immediate transfer priority for Bayern Munich is to find a goalkeeper that can replace the injured Manuel Neuer in the second half of the season. Neuer has been ruled out for the rest of the season after breaking his leg during a ski trip earlier in December.
The first option for Bayern to fill this role is Alexander Nubel. The former Schalke goalkeeper is currently on loan at Monaco from Die Roten. His loan deal with the French club will end in the summer, but Bayern wants to recall him early in January. However, the latest update from Frances suggests that Nubel’s return to Bavaria may not happen soon.
According to L’Equipe (via GGFN), talks between Monaco and Bayern for ending Nubel’s loan deal have stalled. Monaco currently has no replacement lined up for Nubel, so Die Roten is facing problems in completing this deal. Since there is no break clause in the loan deal, Bayern will have to pay compensation to Monaco to get Nubel back in Bavaria six months before the end of his spell.
Moreover, Alexander Nubel also wants assurances over regular playing time once Manuel Neuer recovers from injury. The 26-year-old goalkeeper is not keen on warming the bench at Die Roten when Neuer returns to action. He wants to play regularly after a productive loan spell with Monaco.
Bayern has always considered Nubel as a long-term replacement for Neuer, so it is not surprising they want him to be number one during Ruckrunde. Die Roten reportedly wants to extend his contract beyond 2025, but Nubel is currently unsure about his long-term future at the club due to the presence of Neuer.
The next five months will give Bayern ample amount of time to see if Nubel is ready to replace Neuer in the long run. Hasan Salihamidzic should try everything possible to get the former shot-stopper from Monaco as soon as possible.
If Nubel excels during Ruckrunde, Bayern will have to find a way to provide adequate playing time to him and Neuer from next season. In an ideal scenario, a breakthrough in the deal is made before the team flies to Doha next week for winter camp.
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Apart from Alexander Nubel, Bayern has also been heavily linked with a move for Borussia Monchengladbach’s Yann Sommer. The Swiss goalkeeper is available for a cut-price deal in January since his contract expires at the end of the season. Die Roten reportedly faces competition from the Premier League for the signing of Sommer.