Injury to Manuel Neuer: FC Bayern is examining “all options” in goal

AHasan Salihamidzic is not yet wasting his thoughts on the summer. “It is important that we find the best solution for our team in the short term,” affirmed the Munich sporting director in view of the search for a replacement for Manuel Neuer. Of course, Alexander Nübel is the “closest solution”. But obvious before the winter transfer window doesn’t mean easy.

And this is how “summer” could come into play: Yann Sommer. The television channel Sky described the goalkeeper from Borussia Mönchengladbach during the week as a “1A solution” for the currently vacant goalkeeper position with the German record champions. The Bild newspaper also discussed a change in the Swiss national keeper on Wednesday.

Salihamidzic: Winter transfers possible

The arguments are obvious: the qualities and experience of the goalkeeper with 272 Bundesliga appearances to date are undisputed. In addition, Sommer’s contract in Gladbach expires at the end of the season. The transfer window from January 1st is the last chance for the foals to collect a (not inconsiderable) fee for the 34-year-old World Cup participant.

Sommer, who should also be in the focus of Manchester United, is still on vacation after the round of 16 with the Swiss. The pressure to make decisions is growing. Bayern are examining “different scenarios”, as Salihamidzic confirmed in Sport Bild.

Apparently, coach Julian Nagelsmann doesn’t want to rely on Sven Ulreich alone in the second half of the season. Neuer is out for the rest of the season after his skiing accident with a broken leg. And Nübel is on loan to AS Monaco until the end of the season. The club from the principality “have the last word,” said Salihamidzic.

The 45-year-old is not the only Bundesliga manager facing an exciting January. Max Eberl from cup winners RB Leipzig is also challenged shortly after his return to the Bundesliga business – but is quite relaxed.

Josko Gvardiol was the focus of attention at the World Cup. However, Eberl did not discover any requests for the Croatian defender (contract until summer 2027). “They’re all in the spam folder. The Gvardiol offers are all in spam,” joked the RB managing director at ServusTV.

On the other hand, there could be movement in the personnel Konrad Laimer, the Austrian is associated with FC Bayern. “He still has a year and a half left on his contract. It will be difficult talks,” Eberl suspected. Also with regard to Christopher Nkunku, who had missed the World Cup injured, “something is threatening”, Eberl had said at his presentation. Chelsea should be interested.

Bayern primarily want to look around – and are likely to deviate from Salihamidzic’s transfer philosophy one way or the other. Since he started at Bayern as sports director, only Sandro Wagner (2018) and Alphonso Davies (2019) have come to the Isar for a transfer in winter.

“As you know, I’m not a fan of the winter transfer window. But a lot happened during the World Cup break, so I’m not ruling anything out,” said Salihamidzic. He therefore wants to examine “all options”, “not only” in the goalkeeping position.