Bayern Munich unlikely to move for Trevoh Chalobah in January
Konrad Laimer has been playing in the right-back position for Bayern Munich in the last two Bundesliga games. The Austrian was primarily signed to play in midfield, but Die Roten are currently short in defense due to the departure of Benjamin Pavard in the final week of the summer transfer window.
Bayern are expected to sign a versatile defender in January, but the new arrival may not be the player they tried to sign in the summer. According to Bild (via iMiaSanMia), Bayern are unlikely to pursue the signing of Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea in the winter transfer window.
The Bavarian club and Thomas Tuchel had identified Chalobah as the key target to replace Pavard. Die Roten were interested in a loan deal, while Chelsea wanted a permanent transfer. The London-based club will listen to permanent offers for Chalobah in January, so a move to Bavaria is unlikely.
Chalobah can play in central defense and right-back position. He can also play in a back three, which makes him the perfect replacement for Pavard. The English defender has previously worked with Thomas Tuchel, so it made sense to sign him on a loan deal for Die Roten.
Trevoh Chalobah was subject to a late offer from Nottingham Forest after a move to Bavaria fell through. He will most likely attract interest from other Premier League clubs in January, so a transfer looks imminent for him.
Apart from Chalobah, Bayern also tried to sign Armel Bella-Kotchap from Southampton. The deal for the young German defender fell through, which eventually paved the way for the transfer to PSV Eindhoven on deadline day. It remains to be seen if there is a break clause in the loan deal that can facilitate a move to Bavaria in January.
For the time being, Thomas Tuchel has to be creative in defense and midfield to see out Hinrunde. Laimer and Noussair Mazraoui will share the duties in the right-back position. Joshua Kimmich is also an emergency option, as he played this role to great effect for a couple of seasons after the retirement of Philipp Lahm.
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Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, and Laimer will be the primary options in the midfield for Tuchel in Hinrunde. The Bavarian club is expected to revisit the transfer of Joao Palhinha from Fulham in January. The Portuguese midfielder had completed all formalities in Munich for a transfer, but the final green signal from Fulham never arrived. Palhinha has signed a one-year extension at Fulham, but a move to Bavaria in winter is not ruled out.