Bayern Munich have Galatasaray defender on list to strengthen right-back position

The first objective for the winter transfer window was completed by Bayern Munich on Thursday. After missing out on Genoa’s Radu Dragusin, Bayern moved quickly to clinch a deal for Tottenham’s Eric Dier. The English defender’s arrival gives Thomas Tuchel one more option in the heart of the defense.

After strengthening the central defense, Bayern have switched their attention towards signing a right-back. Since Noussair Mazraoui is with the Moroccan squad for AFCON, Die Roten have no natural right-back in the squad for the next few weeks. Konrad Laimer has done a good job in this position during Hinrunde, but Tuchel wants another option for the second half of the season.

Paris Saint-Germain’s Nordi Mukiele is the top target for Bayern in the right-back position. The Bavarian club is in talks with the French club over a loan deal for Mukiele with an option to buy. Mukiele is also open to a Bundesliga return after 18 months in France.

Bayern also have another option for the right-back position if a move for Mukiele doesn’t materialize. According to Sky Sports in Germany, Galatasaray’s Sacha Boey is on the list of right-backs for Die Roten.

A move for Boey will be permanent, but it remains to be seen what kind of fee the Turkish club will demand for one of their top defenders. Bayern are yet to open talks for Boey as they continue to work on a deal for Mukiele.

Boey has featured regularly for Galatasaray in the league this season. He is strong at winning duels against wide players and solid on the ball. The 23-year-old has scored two goals across 23 games for the Turkish side this season. He will definitely provide a lot of defensive solidity in the right-back position if a move to Bavaria materializes this month.

In an ideal scenario, Die Roten get a deal wrapped up for Mukiele since that move will give them financial flexibility for the summer transfer window. The Bavarian club may go for a strong versatile defender like Ronald Araujo in the summer to strengthen the squad instead of committing a big fee for a natural right-back in January.

Meanwhile, Bayern have decided against signing Joao Palhinha from Fulham in January. The Portuguese midfielder was one step away from joining Die Roten in the summer. However, Tuchel is fine with midfield options until the end of the season after the emergence of Aleksandar Pavlovic in the first half of the season. Moreover, Raphael Guerreiro will also become a concrete option in midfield during Ruckrunde after recovering from injury problems during the Hinrunde.