Options in wide areas
Over the summer, after failed attempts to acquire the likes of Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen, Nico Williams from Athletic Bilbao and Bradley Barcola from Paris-Germain the Bayern chiefs acquired 28-year-old Colombian international-Luiz Diaz from Liverpool for €70 million.
Overall, Diaz provides an upgrade on the left flank compared to Sané and Coman. His work rate is admirable as he presses and tracks back well. However, based on his early-season form his finishing needs to be drastically improved for his move to Germany to be considered a success. Based on how thin the Bayern attack is Lucho needs to score regularly at a higher conversion rate. He will continue to be under the microscope until he improves his finishing.
With Gnabry playing in the number ten position, until Musiala returns to the starting lineup, Bayern are short of a direct senior backup for Diaz on the left wing.
On the right wing the reality is much more pleasing. Last season’s Marquee signing-Michael Olise had a fantastic debut season and much to the joy of the Bavarian faithful, to start the new campaign, he has picked up right from where he left off last season.
Providing the backup to the 23-year-old French international is 17-year-old Lennart Karl. Similar to Olise, the German youth international can play on the wing or as a number ten.
Karl performed impressively during preseason and will only get better as the understudy to Olise. With Bayern currently lacking offensive depth Karl would be given the chance to shine over the course of the season.
However, for the Bavarian giants to have a realistic chance of becoming world beaters this season it would require marked improvement in the finishing of Luiz Diaz; a breakout season from Nicolas Jackson and a return to top form for Jamal Musiala.