The winter transfer window was dominated by the goalkeeping department at Bayern Munich. The Bavarian club was looking for a goalkeeper in the transfer market after Manuel Neuer was ruled out for the rest of the season in December due to a broken leg.
Die Roten was linked with several clubs during January. They initially wanted to recall Alexander Nubel from Monaco, but the German goalkeeper wanted to complete his two-year loan deal in Ligue 1. Keylor Navas and Dominik Livakovic were also linked with a move to Bavaria, but a transfer never materialised for both goalkeepers.
The record Bundesliga champions eventually signed Yann Sommer from Borussia Monchengladbach. The Swiss goalkeeper arrived in Bavaria just before the resumption of the Bundesliga after the World Cup on January 20. He has signed a two and half year contract with Die Roten.
Despite having Neuer, Nubel, and Sommer on the books, Bayern will keep scouring the transfer market for a long-term goalkeeping option. While talking to Tuttomercatoweb (via iMiaSanMia), Empoli’s president Fabrizio Corsi confirmed Die Roten’s interest in their goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
"“No one from Bayern has knocked on our door, but we know it’s a name they’ve been considering since January.”"
Vicario has been a first-choice goalkeeper for Empoli in the last couple of seasons. He has seven clean sheets to his name in Serie A this season. The Italian goalkeeper is decent on the ball, so he can certainly develop into a good goalkeeper for a team dominating possession on a consistent basis.
Bayern will not look to sign a goalkeeper in the summer, but they may have to get a younger goalkeeper by 2024 if Nubel leaves Bavaria next summer. The former Schalke shot-stopper has been playing regularly for Monaco in the past 18 months, so he wants assurances over playing time to stay at Die Roten.
It also remains to be seen how Neuer returns from a long layoff. The 36-year-old goalkeeper is confident about making a strong return by the time pre-season training starts in July. Bayern may have to arrange another loan spell for Nubel in the summer if Neuer and Sommer compete for the number one position next summer. The Bavarian club will look to extend his contract before sending him out on loan. Nubel may also look for a permanent transfer if he feels there is no long-term future at the club.
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Along with changes in the personnel of the goalkeeping department, there was a significant change in the coaching staff of this position at Bayern. Toni Tapalovic left Bayern after a decade, and Hoffenheim’s Michael Rechner arrived at the club to replace him in February.