Potential transfer targets for Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich

Kabse hai intezaar, jazbaat-e-ranjish ka?

After a fairly lengthy hiatus, we are back to discussing players that fit Bayern Munich again! If it wasn’t obvious, with how dissonant the Bayern squad and Thomas Tuchel’s systems were, it was impossible to identify singular players to target as what was really required to play Tuchelball was an entire squad overhaul. However, with Vincent Kompany now at the helm, the squad is functioning at a very high level in harmony with the system, and we can now once again look at individual profiles to help the squad reach a higher level.

As used to be tradition for these sorts of articles, we will not be including players that have been linked with Bayern, purely looking at alternatives to those players.

You should come south of the river, with the chains and the gold.

Bart Verbruggen (Brighton & Hove Albion)

You call it aging, I call it surrender.

Look, we all love Manuel Neuer here, but let’s be honest. The man is 38, and cannot have more than two or three years left in him at a top level. It seemed originally like Neuer was ready to let his career wind down after winning the treble in 2020, and Bayern secured the future of the goalkeeping position by signing Alexander Nübel for free. This is still the best possible solution the club could have found, as Nübel has for the last four years evolved into an extremely capable goalkeeper and perhaps the closest profile to Neuer in Europe. However, it has been four years since this signing, and Nübel is now 28, and while that isn’t ‘old’ by any means, especially for a goalkeeper, it would be better if Bayern looked to secure the long-term future of the position, and this is where Bart Verbruggen steps in.

The 22-year-old shot-stopper is already the #1 for the Netherlands’ national team, and is part of a Brighton & Hove Albion team that look thoroughly impressive in the Premier League. Verbruggen has been touted as a top-tier prospect for a while, first garnering interest from high level clubs at RSC Anderlecht in Belgium, and for good reason. The Dutchman stands at 6’4” and is incredibly agile which of course makes him a menace for both shooters and crossers, but Verbruggen is also extremely capable in build-up. The kicker? Verbruggen has worked extensively with Vincent Kompany already, having been signed by Anderlecht under Kompany and developing into the player he is now under him. A chance to re-unite with the coach that took him to the European stage at Bayern Munich would likely be highly appealing.

Verbruggen signed for Brighton just last year and has a contract running until 2028. If he was to be targeted next summer, he would probably cost around €30m, with Transfermarkt valuing him at €22m. Verbruggen earns just north of €2m per annum at Brighton, an upgrade on which should be no problem for Bayern, considering current deputy Sven Ulreich earns as much.

Rodrigo Zalazar (SC Braga)

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I don’t get the way you feel, and this ain’t a movie reel, and don’t be afraid to love and love again.

In an earlier article, we posited that Bayern sign Sporting CP’s Pedro Gonçalves. However, ‘Pote’ is now not just an elite player in Portugal but one of the finest across Europe and would cost a pretty penny, playing to the high ceiling he was known to be capable of then. Bayern must now look at an alternative, and I believe Rodrigo Zalazar is the guy. One of the offensive systems Kompany has utilised this system uses Sacha Boey at right-back holding width with the right-winger inverting and playing as a hybrid no10 alongside Jamal Musiala, primarily in the right half-space.

Rodrigo Zalazar possesses the perfect qualities to play this role, having played both in the centre of midfield and out wide on the right for SC Braga. The Uruguayan turned 25 this year, so his best years are still ahead of him and if Kingsley Coman really is going to be out the door in January or the summer, Zalazar would be the perfect replacement as Bayern already have enough players to play on the left but lack a true half-space player on the right, with Michael Olise being more effective in a wider role and Leroy Sané possibly seeing out his contract. Zalazar is amazing in tight spaces, being able to dribble out of cul-de-sacs as well as being able to create chances with his great passing and vision. Zalazar is also more than capable of dropping deep to collect and re-distribute the ball, something forwards under Kompany have shown a tendency to do. However, at Bayern, a lot of that burden fallen upon Jamal Musiala, who in my opinion is best used closest to goal, and the introduction of Zalazar would allow Bayern to better split these responsibilities amongst the front-line. Worst case scenario, Zalazar can even play in a double-pivot if the squad is stretched to its breaking point by injuries.

Zalazar has spent a lot of time in Germany with Eintracht Frankfurt and FC Schalke, and is currently valued at €12m by Transfermarkt, making him acquirable for a fee in the €15-20m range despite a contract running until 2028. A current wage package of €1.5m/yr is more than within range of Bayern to offer a raise on, making him a financially sensible option to succeed Kingsley Coman in the attack.

Samuel Lino (Atlético Madrid)

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If these heights should bring my fall, let me be your own Icarian carrion.

Alphonso Davies’ contract runs out in 2025, and with Max Eberl and Davies’ agent having come to an agreement before the board stepped in to veto an extension, it is highly unlikely that Davies extends, instead opting to leave at the end of his contract. Bayern may not miss him dearly due to the plateau in his development over the last couple years, but he is still a valuable member of the squad, and a player who’s replacement will need to be brought in immediately. Under Kompany, Davies has played an advanced role, almost as a wide midfielder, taking charge of build-up on the left whether that’s by hugging the touchline to stretch the structure of the opposition or inverted into the centre to create an overload in midfield.

Samuel Lino is a player who has all the correct characteristics to take over this role, as he is one of Europe’s top carriers from the midfield zones. Lino is an expert at positioning himself to receive inside the block of opposition structures, and is equally adept at beating the men he takes on with the ball at his feet, as well as being a capable box-crasher once the ball has been distributed elsewhere and is about to return to his neck of the woods. While Lino is not an extraordinary creator, the role Kompany has used Davies in doesn’t require a lot of creativity, but rather the ability to spot players in positions to create those final chances, as well as being the free-man when the ball is in other areas of the field. Lino is perfect for this. Furthermore, Lino possesses great ability defending in 1-versus-1 situations and has great recovery pace. It may not be the straight-line speed of the Formula One car that is Davies, but it is still one of the best in Europe. The main thing that attracts me to Lino still however is his technical assurance, something Davies does not bring to the table, as well as his age — he turns 25 this year, young but not inexperienced. Furthermore, if Kompany employs a different system like the one with both full-backs inverting into the middle, Lino can slot in perfectly as a touchline-hugging left winger, where he is as comfortable if not more comfortable playing.

Lino is contracted to Atlético Madrid until 2027 with a reported wage of €1.25m/yr. While the personal negotiations with Lino shouldn’t be a hassle as €1.25m is a wage package Bayern can easily offer an upgrade on for a player that will likely get a lot of game-time, the transfer fee would be a different issue as he is valued at €30m by Transfermarkt, and would likely require a fee north of €35-40m to get Atlético Madrid to let go of Lino. However, this fee is more than worth it for a player of his quality.

Mohammed Salisu (AS Monaco)

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It’s quite possible that I’m your third man, girl, but it’s a fact that I’m the seventh son.

Bayern Munich will require back-up in the centre-back position, sooner rather than later. With Josip Stanišić and Hiroki Itō not completely committed to the centre-back position, the only real deputy for Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano is Eric Dier, a player who, while serviceable in case of emergency, is not the type of player Kompany will want to use when employing a high line as he does not possess the speed to recover his position.

AS Monaco’s Mohammed Salisu is the best option on the market right now, standing at 6’3” but cutting this impressive figure without sacrificing speed or agility, similar to Dayot Upamecano and Kim Min-jae. Salisu possesses great passing ability which will make him fit right at home in Kompany’s build-up structures, and even more importantly he is left-footed, allowing him to be more comfortable on the left side of defense than Min-jae Kim. Salisu is also very mature off the ball, being excellent at positioning himself off the ball but also being a very accomplished physical specimen when it comes to harassing attackers directly, whether it’s in an aerial duel or making a tackle. At 25, Salisu has better years ahead of him and would be best purchased now when he is on the verge of entering his prime.

Salisu has a contract running until 2028, being valued at €15m by Transfermarkt. This should make him available for a price north of €20m, which would provide strong value for money. Salisu earns about €3m/yr, which is a salary Bayern can afford to offer an upgrade on.

What do you think of our picks? Is there anyone you would like to see? Let us know your thoughts in the discussion below.