There has not been a single transfer rumor linking Bayern Munich to VfB Stuttgart center-back Hiroki Ito, with the majority of rumors linking Bayern to the likes of Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah and Chelsea FC’s Levi Colwill. But all of a sudden, it seems that Bayern is on the verge of completing a move for Ito, according to Bild reporter Tobi Altschäffl. The Japanese center-back has been a mainstay for the past two seasons for a resurgent VfB Stuttgart team that managed to finish above Bayern Munich last season.
Due to a €30 million release clause in the player’s contract with Stuttgart, Bayern has been able to get to the verge of a completed deal for Ito, “with only the signature missing on the contract” according to Altschäffl. These reports have been backed up by Florian Plettenberg, who adds that negotiations for Tah are “still ongoing” despite this potential signing.
BFW Analysis
It looks like this deal is set to be completed in the next few days. Importantly, Ito is a left-footed center-back joining a group of center-backs that are not left-footed. Combine this important attribute with how he is Bundesliga proven and it is not hard to see why Bayern like this player.
Of course, this raises real questions for Bayern’s current center-back core as Dayot Upamecano, Matthijs de Ligt and Kim Min-jae have all been linked with a transfer away from Munich. Inking a new central defender will leave Bayern with five center-backs, which means one of the existing center-backs will need to be sold — or Vincent Kompany will line up with a back three.
This shocking twist of a transfer will certainly raise a lot of questions about Bayern’s squad building this summer.