Bayern Munich set to be busy in winter transfer window

The summer transfer window was largely successful for Bayern Munich. They managed to get their prime target, Harry Kane, before the start of the Bundesliga campaign. Bayern also got adequate replacements for Lucas Hernandez and Joao Cancelo.

Despite signing Kane for club record fee (more than €100 million),  Bayern managed to have a positive net spent in the summer. The only stain on Die Roten’s summer dealings was the failure to secure replacements for Benjamin Pavard and Ryan Gravenberch. Both players left Bayern in the final week of the transfer window.

The record Bundesliga champions scrambled for a defensive midfielder on deadline day. They agreed a deal for Fulham’s Joao Palhinha. The Portuguese midfielder had his medical in Munich, but his move eventually collapsed since Fulham couldn’t secure a replacement for him. Rekordmeister also failed to get deals over the line for Armel Bella-Kotchap and Trevoh Chalobah. Both defenders were considered replacements for Pavard.

Bayern had an embarrassing end to a largely successful window. Thomas Tuchel was disappointed on deadline day as his squad was weakened by departures without getting adequate replacements. While talking to ZDF on Tuesday (via iMiaSanMia), Bayern sporting director Christoph Freund confirmed the club’s plans to be active in January after a poor end to the summer transfer window.

"“We are in daily contact and have a lot of quality. We are discussing January and where we can still improve. But the next few weeks are very important so that we can have a good position in all competitions. We will discuss that in more detail. A new player just has to fit the team. We will find the right solutions, but it will be a challenge for January.”"

The Bavarian club is expected to go back for Palhinha. The Portuguese midfielder has signed a new deal at Fulham to improve his salary, but a move away in January has not been ruled out. Tuchel has been pushing for a defensive midfielder throughout the summer window, so it is crucial for Die Roten to get on in the winter window.

Bayern will also look for a versatile defender who can play in central defense and right-back positions. They are reportedly not considering a move for Chalobah in January. It will be intriguing to see what Rekordmeister’s alternative plans for this position.

Apart from these two positions, Bayern are well covered in all other areas of the squad. Unless there is an injury crisis, no other area of the squad will be addressed in January. They will, at most, make two signings in the winter window. However, it is a challenging transfer window since the clubs don’t prefer selling players midway through the campaign.

The winter window will also mark Freund’s first with Bayern. The Austrian sporting director officially started in the new role at Bayern after the end of the summer transfer window. Freund has a track record of getting quality young players from his time at RB Leipzig. It will be interesting to see what solutions Freund will come up with to solve Tuchel’s problem with the squad.