Last Thursday Hasan Salihamidzic was still covered. When asked about a possible commitment by Leroy Sané, the sports director of FC Bayern told SPIEGEL that he was “not talking about players who are under contract with other clubs”. Due to the dynamics of Tuesday afternoon, with reports that the deal with Sané was almost fixed, Salihamidzic said he could “confirm that we are in good discussions with Leroy and Manchester City, but you will have to be patient” .
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An answer that was not yet an official confirmation – but almost sounded like it.
So Sané’s move to Munich is nearing completion. It also sounds like Sanés’ still coach Pep Guardiola: “It is not yet fixed. There are still a few small questions, but it looks like he is going to Munich,” said the city coach on Wednesday.
Officially, Tanguy Kouassi, who signed a four-year contract with FC Bayern and, as he explained at the official launch, only wants to be named with his second surname is officially signed. Therefore, his jersey with the number 23 adorned only the name Nianzou.
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One superstar and one top talent: two for the future. Even before the end of the old season, Bayern are setting an example for the next season – and far beyond.
Sané’s best years are still ahead of him
In the past few weeks, it had remained unclear how Bayern would position themselves in terms of access in Corona times. Club boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge spoke of expanding the squad; his designated successor Oliver Kahn raised the question of whether new players would be brought in during these uncertain months.
The answer came promptly now and it was clear.
Sané is said to cost a little less than 50 million euros, plus bonus payments will likely be made. Given the short term of the contract in Manchester, where Sané’s contract would have ended in the summer of 2021, this is not a small sum. Sané is reported to receive 17 million euros a year. For this, the Munich get a winger who is likely to reinforce the outstanding Bayern offensive again – and who should do so over a long period of time. Sané is 24 years old, and his best years are still around the corner.
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The coup with Nianzou
Nianzou, 18, already received minutes of play at Paris Saint-Germain under Thomas Tuchel. But will he play an important role for Munich in the coming season? The competition in the center of defense is enormous at Bayern. Jérôme Boateng succeeded in what was hardly thought possible: he was almost in top form. David Alaba is also a convincing center-back (but has still not renewed his 2021 contract); and then there is the last long-term injured international Niklas Süle and record entry Lucas Hernández, who came from Atlético Madrid for 80 million in the summer.
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As a right foot, Nianzou will mainly compete with Boateng and Süle. It will be difficult to oust either of them immediately. And yet Nianzous Transfer can be described as a coup.
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When he appeared in the PSG jersey, the teenager seemed as relaxed as a veteran. In defense, where players tend to get better, the more dangerous situations they experience, and experience at a high level, that’s a surprise. And gives an idea of why several top clubs from Europe are said to have tried to help the free French. Trainer Tuchel recently emphasized how much he regretted that PSG Nianzou could not have lasted.
Salihamidzic said of him: “He is one of the best players of his age group in Europe, he is very far as a central defender, but he can also play on the six.” And the 18-year-old himself said: “I am a trained defender, but I can also adapt and play in a different position.”
Bayern are well positioned in the defense center. The same applies to the offensive outer lanes. Sané is likely to be on the left, plus Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry, both 24 years old. It is possible that Ivan Perisic will stay too, so far the two-legged winger has been loaned out by Inter Milan.
There is hardly any doubt that Bayern will continue to dominate the Bundesliga with this squad – which will also include goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, who comes from Schalke. With the latest transfers, dominance will hardly diminish, on the contrary. But of course that is not the club’s goal.
It’s still shaking
Bayern are working on the foundation that should guarantee the club to get as far as possible in the Champions League. The obligations of Nianzou and soon also Sané, plus long-term contract extensions with Thomas Müller, Alphonso Davies, Bavaria’s season discovery par excellence, as well as Manuel Neuer – the framework for this is largely – and it has become a rather noble building.
Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen would make this squad even more noble. It is not clear whether there is enough money for the 21-year-old midfielder after Sané and whether Havertz would be interested in switching at all.
The central midfield is the only area in the squad structure that wobbles a bit.
For weeks, the club has not announced an agreement with Thiago, the contract with the Spaniard runs until 2021, it is said that he is flirting with an early departure. The midfield center of Bavaria, where Thiago is at home, is also heavily staffed by Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka. Only: With two top players alone, the club will hardly make it through these key positions through the next season, which should be full of English weeks. Where “successful” means: according to Bavarian standards.
Corentin Tolisso has been injured for a long time, but actually not a player with the exceptional qualities of Thiago. There are not many of them on the player market anyway. And whether the Bavarians want to go into the coming season with just three seasoned professionals plus talents like Mikaël Cuisance? Especially since Kimmich would have to help out, right-back Benjamin Pavard was injured.
Thiago’s qualities would also be lacking: in game setup, in counterpressing and whenever the force of a Goretzka is not needed, but rather the small-scale combination that the 29-year-old masters like few others. When the Spaniard reaches top form, he is a world-class player. Replacing him would pose a tricky task for Munich, it would be the largest of this transfer summer. And for the really big deals, the Bavarians had not recently shown the right knack.
Record man Hernández could not get past Alaba or Davies. And superstar Philippe Coutinho, loaned by FC Barcelona, often played only a minor role in the most important games. Coutinho’s loan was extended until August for his participation in the Champions League. The fact that the Bavarians are trying to keep him permanently in Munich is considered almost impossible.
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