Once again it looks as though Bayern Munich will clinch their 27th Bundesliga title following their 3-0 win over Cologne at the weekend, but if they want to challenge for the Champions League, they’re going to need a few additions.
Club captain and World Cup winner Philipp Lahm will retire from the playing field at the end of season, whilst Carlo Ancelotti has an ageing squad. Rafinha, Xabi Alonso, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are all in their 30’s, and they should look to add some younger players to their squad to complete the team.
Bayern Munich will always be criticised for buying the best players from fellow Bundesliga clubs, but there’s no doubting their ideology.
We look at five players who they could sign in the summer.
#1 Kingsley Coman – Juventus
Just this week, Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated that they intend to take up their option to sign France international Kingsley Coman on a permanent deal. Although he’s missed much of the season through injury, the Juventus forward returned to action a week ago, scoring a brace against Hamburger SV in an 8-0 thrashing.
"With Coman we have an option that is valid until April 30," Rummenigge told Tuttosport. "He had a few difficulties after the Euros, but lately has returned to his usual level. We will probably activate the option to buy.”
The 20-year-old has missed 19 games for Bayern Munich in all competitions this season, but the 16 games he has featured in, he’s found the net on two occasions.
#2 Andre Silva – FC Porto
There’s plenty of talk that FC Porto’s André Silva will move to a major European league this summer, with Premier League duo Arsenal and Manchester United reportedly interested.
Agile, good with both feet and possessing the ability to play anywhere across a front three, the now Portugal international would add some youthful quality behind Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Müller.
Top goalscorer for Nuno Espírito Santo’s Porto this season, the 21-year-old has scored 15 goals in 23 Liga Nos games; adding to his four goals in seven in the Champions League.
With money not really an issue for Bayern Munich, Silva would add something different to Carlo Ancelotti’s side to what they already possess.
#3 Nelson Semedo – SL Benfica
With the news that Philipp Lahm will hang up his playing boots in the summer, Rummenigge and Ancelotti must replace the World Cup winner; who ends his 22-year spell at the club.
On their radar has been SL Benfica’s Nelson Semedo – who would be ideally the realistic replacement for the 33-year-old. Whilst Joshua Kimmich has been playing right-back for much of the season, there is talk in Germany that should a full-back be signed, the 22-year-old will move back into midfield.
At just 23-year-old of age, Semedo has rose to prominence in his native Portugal. A product of Benfica’s youth academy, the full-back has played 37 games in all competitions this season, including all seven games in the Champions League.
Semedo has the ability to go forward with the ball, which will fit in with Ancelotti’s style of play, whilst the Italian will also be able to improve the 23-year-old defensively.
#4 Julian Brandt – Bayer Leverkusen
Linked with a move to Premier League’s Liverpool, if Julian Brandt wanted to remain in the Bundesliga, Bayern Munich would remain the perfect option. The 20-year-old has been tipped to succeed at the highest level on the international stage, ever since he switched to Bayer Leverkusen from Wolfsburg.
At just 20-years-old, Brandt has already played 122 games in all competitions for Bayer Leverkusen – scoring 12 and recording 22 assists. Brandt became the youngest player since legendary Gerd Müller to score in six consecutive games in the 2015/16 season.
Like Silva, Brandt can play anywhere across the front three, as well as in behind the main striker. For someone this young, he has an experienced head on his shoulders where he’s able to utilise the space around him to maximise his team’s potential. An asset to any team.
#5 Dele Alli – Tottenham Hotspur
Despite being linked with a move to Bayern Munich and various other European clubs, Tottenham Hotspur will be doing all they can to keep their young star, Dele Alli.
A £5.6 million signing from MK Dons in 2015, Alli has already played 82 games for Spurs under Mauricio Pochettino, and the Argentine coach has got the best out of him this season.
As the Premier League club look to finish ahead of their arch-rivals Arsenal, Alli has been instrumental in Tottenham Hotspur’s season, scoring 12 league goals in 25 games.
Likened to club legend Paul Gascoigne, Alli has already played 15 times for England at just 20-years of age. His ability to play just behind the striker could provide Lewandowski with the partner he so desperately needs, which would allow Thiago to drop a little deeper.
