A media report is again making big headlines about FC Bayern: One day after a squad disagreement between coach Julian Nagelsmann and sports director Hasan Salihamidžić was reported, it is now said that the board is viewed more and more critically internally.
Now FC Bayern is finally getting started on the transfer market. With the Moroccan Noussair Mazraou comes a new right-back. There is a lot of good news for the Munich team in this personality: (1) the 24-year-old comes on a free transfer from Ajax Amsterdam, (2) he is a trained man for the key position, (3) feels the offensive urge desired by the coach and ( 4) relieves sports director Hasan Salihamidžić (temporarily), who has been reported intensively again in the past few days. He is said to be in a “simmering” clinch with coach Julian Nagelsmann. Not on a personal level, which distinguishes the current dissent from that between “Brazzo” and ex-coach Hansi Flick, but purely on a sporting level.
Because FC Bayern, it’s no secret, is under pressure. The club moves in a complicated area of tension between economic reason (limited possibilities) and urgently needed conversion work in the squad. The club cannot afford another summer in which the squad is weaker across the board and possibly also at the top, given the unbroken great ambitions nationally and internationally. Salihamidžić is particularly responsible for this.
And after the “Sport Bild” had already reported on Wednesday that there was a crunch between the sports director and the coach, the “Abendzeitung” now follows up and says that the Bosnian’s work is being questioned more and more internally. His future is considered “uncertain”. Despite the contract until the summer of 2023, an “early separation is also possible”. The newspaper does not report how concrete all this is. The sports director has “only a few supporters” with the record champions. However, his friend and sponsor Uli Hoeneß should continue to be one of them. The patriarch’s influence in the club should still be immense despite his retirement.
No one knows how good or bad the financial possibilities of Munich are to land the really big transfers this summer. One can only guess. Salihamidžić, among others, had already admitted weeks ago that the situation was not that simple. This apparently explains the reluctance on the transfer market and in the contract talks with Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry. The personal details cause a lot of fuss. Both players are said to be planning their exit at the moment, according to various media. In the case of the Polish top scorer, the desire to change is even very concrete, reports “Sport” aktuell. The player gave the green light for an engagement at FC Barcelona. Now updates to Lewandowski have been rolling over for weeks – but they are stressing FC Bayern and its sports director. And if there is no peace in the club at this level, that falls within Salihamidžić’s functional area.
The construction sites in the squad are already large. One seems closed with Noussair Mazraou. He is already seen as the first real right-back since the legendary Philipp Lahm. An official mortgage that is being shouldered there (in the media). Club colleague Ryan Gravenberch is the first choice for central midfield – and a likely newcomer. Rumors about the French world champion Paul Pogba, on the other hand, should be an air pump. Other construction sites in the squad: a loud defense chief and a classic six. At least it seems settled. The Munich should strive for Konrad Laimer from RB Leipzig. The coach, who is also under observation after a good debut season (but no more than that), would also like “one or two pressing machines.” Not easy, but doable. The situation becomes extremely difficult if Lewandowski really gets out early and leaves the club in the summer.
The Pole is said to have received an extremely lucrative call from Catalonia. Up to 30 million euros wave the striker with a change. In Munich, according to ntv.de information, he is currently earning around 24 million euros. For the record champions, the question therefore arises: Is a new contract with an adjusted salary worthwhile for a 33-year-old or should the striker be sold for money now before his contract expires next summer. This question is closely interwoven with a second one: who would be available and able to help?
Haaland is the most exciting alternative on the market. What’s left? Chelsea’s Romelu Lukaku? A brawny guy, good at closing, but certainly very expensive as a package. Liverpool’s Sadio Mane? A coup, but really realistic given the limited budget in Munich? Patrick Schick from Bayer Leverkusen? Who once in Leipzig did not have a good (because unsuccessful) time with Nagelsmann? Rather risky. Sebastien Haller from Ajax Amsterdam? Not the category in which FC Bayern thinks and which is under discussion at Borussia Dortmund. Cristiano Ronaldo? Oh well.
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