And suddenly there is a change in the record champions

FC Bayern actually only wanted to get new players in two positions. It is now clear that there is still more to be done.

A center forward and a defensive midfielder. Preferably both at world class level. According to reports, these were FC Bayern’s transfer plans. Some players who would only play supporting roles should go. Bouna Sarr for example. Or Daley Blind. Sadio Mané and Yann Sommer were also reportedly considered candidates for a move.

But in the past few weeks, other names have been added to the list of possible departures that Bayern Munich’s management had not expected:

• According to “Bild”, Benjamin Pavard has informed the club that he will not extend his contract, which runs until 2024.
• According to media reports, Lucas Hernández, who also has a working paper for next year, should already be in agreement with Paris Saint-Germain.
• According to a report by “Kicker”, Noussair Mazraoui is also considering a change. The Moroccan has the feeling that he only plays when others are out.
• Alphonso Davies’ adviser indicated in “Bild” that his client had doubts due to the current unrest. “It’s a chaotic time at FC Bayern right now. I’m not sure what’s going on and who we’re going to be dealing with,” he said.

While FC Bayern has the upper hand with Mazraoui (contract until 2026) and Davies (contract until 2025), the pressure is greater in the Pavard and Hernández cases. Because if Munich still wants to make a lot of money with the French, they would have to sell both this summer.

If both defenders should leave the club, Bayern would have to upgrade and sign at least one new man for the defensive center. Because with Dayot Upamecano and Matthijs de Ligt, coach Thomas Tuchel would only have two central defenders available. Including the targeted transfers in the storm center and on the “six”, there would then be a change in the room.

There is not only interest in the names mentioned. Serge Gnabry could also bring money. According to the British newspaper “Daily Express”, Arsenal have their sights set on the international. Coach Mikel Arteta is eyeing Gnabry’s return to the Gunners. From 2011 to 2016 he played for the Londoners with a short break. On the sidelines of the Formula 1 race in Barcelona, ​​which Gnabry attended, Sky asked him about his interest in his ex-club. “Of course I’ve been following Arsenal this season. As the saying goes, once a gunner, always a gunner.”

And on the offensive wings, where he is actually at home, the competition is fierce. Kingsley Coman and Leroy Sané were in the lead recently, with Gnabry moving into the center of the attack. But there is now just a “real” center forward to take over. Gnabry could lose his place in the starting XI.

The same fate threatens Leon Goretzka. It would be he who would probably slip out of the starting lineup for a defensive midfielder. Next man Joshua Kimmich is set. For the 28-year-old Goretzka, losing his regular place a year before the European Championships at home would be a setback.

With Konrad Laimer, who, according to media reports, has already signed, a new signing has already been confirmed for the midfield center. And the Dutchman Ryan Gravenberch announced at the end of April that he wanted to fight for more playing time: “Training and playing at the highest level for a year is nice and instructive – even if it’s mainly training. That has to change in the next Changing the season, I really want to play week after week again,” he told Dutch newspaper Voetbal International.

The transfer team around the supervisory board members Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge as well as coach Thomas Tuchel must take all of this into account when planning the squad in the coming weeks. It will be a balancing act between strengthening the roster, keeping the stars happy and making changes in moderation in order to have a powerful squad already at the start of the season.

Because the competition from Leipzig, Dortmund and Leverkusen will want to use every opportunity after the relatively weak Bayern season to ensure an exciting championship again.