Bayern Munich will be in the market for a new forward when the transfer window opens at the end of the season. The Bavarian club wants to sign a left-sided forward to provide a backup option for Luis Diaz. The Colombian has been sensational on the left for Bayern since arriving from Liverpool in the summer.
In terms of departures in the attack, Nicolas Jackson will return to Chelsea after the end of his loan spell. Die Roten do not want to sign the Senegalese on a permanent deal. Bayern will also have to find a new destination for Bryan Zaragoza since AS Roma have no plans to sign him on a permanent deal.
According to Gazetta Dello Sport (via Goal), AS Roma have no plans to activate the option of signing Zaragoza on a permanent deal for €13 million. The Italian club would have to sign him permanently if they had qualified for the Europa League and Zaragoza had played a certain number of games during the second half of the season.
The Spaniard will return to Sabner Strasse at the end of the season after having poor loan spells at Celta Vigo and AS Roma in one campaign.
Bayern had communicated to Zaragoza that he was not part of the club’s plans last summer. He excelled at Osasuna a season prior, so his preference was to return to Spain. Celta negotiated a loan move with an option to buy. Zaragoza played several games for the Spanish club in the first half of the season, but managed only a solitary goal and an assist.
Celta decided to terminate the loan deal in January, allowing the Spaniard to join AS Roma until the end of the season. Zaragoza has played six games for the Italian club and managed one assist until now. Roma will pay a fine to Bayern for not activating the option to buy at the end of the season.
Should Zaragoza get a chance at Bayern next season?
Zaragoza is a tidy wide player, but he never got adequate opportunities at Bayern to show his talent. He struggled during the adaptation period due to injury and the demands of a new league. A difficult 2025/26 season has potentially further dented his confidence.
Die Roten and Zaragoza should have explored a loan move in the Bundesliga last summer. By staying in the Bundesliga, Zaragoza would have given himself the best chance of having a future at Bayern. As things stand, it will be difficult for Bayern to consider Zaragoza as an option in the summer.
Both parties will explore a permanent solution in the summer. Die Roten will have to take a hit on the €17 million fee they paid to Granada for Zaragoza in 2024.