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Bayern Munich turned around and kept their Champions League dreams alive.
Regardless of what the playoffs lead to next, probable changes in the squad and a new coach await in the summer.
Here are five players who, no matter what, should be part of next season’s FC Bayern. But also five players that perhaps they should rather ship.
FC Bayern Munich have truly been FC Hollywood this season – that’s one thing for sure.
If it had not been a stable and comfortable 3-0 victory (total 3-1) against Lazio on Tuesday evening, Thomas Tuchel would probably have been fired before the crowd had time to go home from the Allianz arena.
Now, instead, he has to continue for a while longer – until he is fired and replaced in the summer. Which is already officially confirmed will be the case.
Regardless of whether it will be Xabi Alonso, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto De Zerbi, Julian Nagelsmann (again) or someone else who takes over, there are also question marks around the squad.
Several stars have contracts that expire in 2025. Several other, heavily courted, stars are under contracts through 2026 with no extension on the horizon yet.
And several stars, regardless of the length of their contracts, have been unhappy and irritated this past season.
Players will likely be sold, just as players will be bought to replace them.
Here are five that they really should keep no matter what – but also five that they should perhaps rather ditch and say goodbye to.
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full screen Are Tuchel’s days at Bayern Munich numbered? Photo: Matthias Schrader/AP
Five players to keep:
Harry Kane
Although he has been scoring goals on a regular basis, most of the headlines about Harry Kane since the move from Tottenham have been about his alleged ‘curse’. Because how else could Bayern lose a Supercup final against Leipzig, crash out of the DFB Pokal against little Saarbrücken and be on the verge of missing out on their first league title in eleven years?
In any case, it is not Harry Kane’s fault that Bayern are likely to be titleless (at least domestically) this season. There is no doubt that it is Kane who will be responsible for the goals going forward next season as well. Regardless of who coaches the club.
Jamal Musiala
One of the world’s top attacking midfield talents. Even as a 21-year-old, the most exciting, creative, quirky player Bayern have in their team. This is to “state the obvious” – but Jamal Musiala is FC Bayern’s future.
To even consider selling him would be completely preposterous. Fortunately for all involved, Bayern will not consider it as long as Musiala himself would not force his way out.
Kim Min Jae
Surprisingly, the tough South Korean was benched in favor of Eric Dier in the win against Lazio. Having said that, Kim is still a defensive piece worth building things around. After all, he has never really failed anywhere. He was unstoppable in Beijing and the Chinese league (to back the tape really far) where he was nicknamed “The Monster”. He was at least as good in Fenerbahce. And then he went in and stuck it all out during an incredible Scudetto season in a Napoli shirt. No, his debut season in Bayern doesn’t seem to be what Bayern had hoped for (as there will likely be no Meisterschale, maybe no title at all). But Kim Min-Jae is one of the world’s best centre-backs. Save for everything in the world!
Joshua Kimmich
Here is an even bigger watershed than the three previous names mentioned. Because Joshua Kimmich is actually rumored to be on his way out in the summer. He is also said to be the player who is most dissatisfied with Thomas Tuchel’s coaching. Against Lazio, he played right back – which he doesn’t really want. Actually, he wants to play “six” in the middle – where Bayern wants to sign new. He has a contract that expires in just over a year. There are plenty of parameters that suggest that a move would be in everyone’s best interest.
But Joshua Kimmich is a future team captain. One of the team’s main voices and foreground figures. Absolutely, this season he has been a yoke rather than an asset to the dressing room if reports in the German press are to be believed. But it is still an incredibly versatile, intelligent and skilled footballer. There is a reason other top clubs see him as a dream signing this summer. And when Bayern is rebuilding, certain players are still needed who really personify the club.
Kimmich is undeniably one of them.
Aleksandar Pavlovic
If we look even further ahead on the horizon, towards the future, then new leaders and new profiles are needed who can become cornerstones in an FC Bayern. 19-year-old Aleksandar Pavlovic has gone all the way through the club’s academy and has recently also been given the chance in starting elevens and the A team under Thomas Tuchel. And he has also impressed and looked ready when given the chance (at least he didn’t lose against Lazio).
Hopefully, the next Bayern coach will also give Pavlovic the confidence and the opportunity to grow and develop.
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full screenHarry Kane – a key piece. Photo: Sven Hoppe / AP
Five players to ship:
Alphonso Davies
The Canadian winger has recently returned from injury and was benched during Tuesday’s game against Lazio. Meanwhile, Davies already seems to have his head elsewhere (and that’s not referring to the alleged party night with Leon Goretzka and Serge Gnabry).
Real Madrid seem to really want to sign Davies. And Davies certainly seems to want to go there. For Bayern, it feels reasonable to cash in on this situation. Especially with contracts in mind, which expire as soon as 2025.
Dayot Upamecano
When Bayern fell out of the Champions League last season, against Manchester City, Dayot Upamecano became a clear scapegoat.
When Bayern fell to Lazio in the first round of 16 last month, Upamecano also found himself in the unwanted limelight and was sent off.
And the fact is that the 25-year-old has taken the scapegoat role all too often when it mattered most to Bayern, even though he is basically an extremely competent and skilled center back. The most talked about is that it is Matthijs De Ligt who will be on his way out to make way for the star centre-back signing that Bayern are said to be looking for this summer. But the question is whether it should not rather be Upamecano who is put on the transfer list.
Leroy Sane
This may seem like an extremely strange statement given that Sané actually has a really good season in the Bayern jersey behind him. Without competition his best in Germany since the move from Manchester City in 2020. But he has a contract until 2025. He has managed to turn 28. And with this fine season behind him, he would probably also sell for a good price.
The thing is, I’m anything but convinced that this Sané season is the start of something bigger. The feeling is that it is rather a temporary peak of form. If there is Premier League interest to capitalize on (which there is reported to be anyway) it may be smart to actually sell. At least if you want to continue betting on Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and signed Bryan Zaragoza in the outer roles going forward.
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting
With hindsight, the free transfer signing of the Cameroonian striker has been a very smart solution. Last season also a top solution when he sensationally covered for the sale of Robert Lewandowski. But with the rental interest Mathys Tel on the rise (talking about one more player they shouldn’t let go) “Choupodowski” feels redundant in a Bayern 2024. It feels like a good time to break and move on for all parties.
Thomas Müller
Finally. Saying that Bayern should do with Thomas Müller is like swearing in all the Bavarian churches at once. The icon Thomas Müller. The eternally young “Raumdeuter” who really became Mr. Bayern during all his years at the club. The winning skull who always demands the utmost from his teammates. The funny group that always offers laughter, smiles and jokes to lighten the mood. He actually just scored the decisive goal against Lazio too.
But do you really want a fresh start? Then you have to take some drastic measures so that it really becomes a fresh start.
Thomas Müller has reached the age of 34 and could certainly fulfill a squad-widening function for another year or two. But does Thomas Müller really just want to be a squad-widening option? And can you really get a fresh start when you still have such a profile that rules and sets the squad? Isn’t it time here and now to find a painless farewell instead of risking an infected farewell in the long run? If anyone deserves to be thanked with pomp and circumstance, it is Thomas Müller. For everyone’s good, it should happen already in the summer when Bayern will step into a new era.
