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A 5-1 loss to Eintracht Frankfurt in November which led to the sacking of then Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac, led fans and pundits to believe that Bayern Munich were in the middle of a crisis.
Kovac had won the domestic double with Bayern in 2018-2019 but never gave the sense that he was in control of things at the club.
The hand-over in management to assistant coach Hansi-Dieter Flick, who was hired on an interim basis, turned Bayern Munich's season around. Bayern's upsurge in form during the winter period of the 2019-20 Bundesliga season earned Flick the managerial position until the end of the season.
Bayern Munich offered Flick a new long-term contract in April 2020, keeping him at the club until 2023, with the club hierarchy and players believing that Flick was the future of Bayern Munich.
Its safe to say that the decision to sign Flick to a long term deal has been vindicated. Champions of Germany by a massive 13 points, winners of the German cup, and a Champions League triumph for the first time in 7 years, a feat which even the likes of Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola failed to achieve, Bayern Munich are possibly the best club in Europe right now.
Hansi Flick has managed to incorporate an attacking,' heavy metal' type of football, that is based around a high-pressing system, at the club. His first order of business was to restore club legends Thomas Muller, Jerome Boateng and Manuel Neuer to the usual starting berths.
Muller has had his most productive season in a Bayern shirt, contributing 21 assists, a new Bundesliga record while Manuel Neuer has again found his form, restoring his status of one of the best goalkeepers in the world after enduring a injury hit 2 seasons prior to 2019-20.
The goal-scoring of Robert Lewandowski, and the performances of Bayern Munich's young guns Serge Gnabry, Leon Goretzka, Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies, led Bayern to the treble. Bayern are however looking to strengthen their squad in order to begin a new era of dominance under Hansi Flick.
Here are 5 players we think Bayern Munich should sign.
#5 Sergino Dest, Ajax
The U.S.A international, Sergino Dest has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich this summer. The Ajax right-back has been one of the standout players for the club in the 2019-20 Eredivisie and seems destined to have a future in one of the top clubs in Europe.
Bayern do have a few options at right back in the form of Joshua Kimmich and Benjamin Pavard. Kimmich has proven himself to be one of the most talented players in the world and would be wasting his talents at right-back. He has played in central midfield on several occasions in the past and seems likely to make the position his own.
Pavard's original position is centre-half. Hence Bayern will look to sign a long term player for the right-back slot. Ajax are also the type of club that develops players only to sell them later for huge profits.
#4 Marcus Thuram, Borussia Moenchengladbach
Marcus Thuram, son of French World Cup-winner Lillian Thuram, is a striker who plays for Borussia Moenchengladbach. The France U-21 international scored 10 goals in 31 league games for his club this season, a decent return in your first season in Germany.
Thuram possesses bags of pace and strength. He could be the backup striker that Bayern Munich has been searching for for years as much of the onus to score goals has fallen on the reliable shoulders of Robert Lewandowski, who only seems to get better with age.
Bayern Munich would however like to have more options up front, with Serge Gnabry and Thomas Muller having to fill in as backup strikers.
#3 Ivan Perisic, Inter Milan
Ivan Perisic has just come of a very impressive season long loan with Bayern Munich in the 2019-20 season. The Croatian helped the club win the Champions League, Bundesliga and the German Cup.
The 2018 World Cup finalist provided good competition for places to wingers, Gnabry and Koman , and scored crucial goals for Bayern at key points in their season.
His performances and qualities have forced Bayern Munich to try and seal a permanent move for Perisic, who are reportedly on the verge of signing him, with only the transfer fee yet to be agreed upon.
#4 Julian Draxler, Paris-Saint Germain
Julian Draxler, a former Schalke and Wolfsburg player, was at one point one of the most sought after and talented youngsters in Europe. PSG believed in his talent and signed him in 2017 from Wolfsburg.
Draxler's move to PSG has not worked the way the player and club envisioned it would. The German has been reduced to a bit part role at the club falling down the pecking order behind the likes of Marco Veratti, Pablo Sarabia, Leandro Paredes and Angel Di Maria.
A move back to the Bundesliga to a team like Bayern Munich, that boasts a large German contingent in their squad, can revitalise Draxler's career.
At 26, Draxler would prove to be a very good investment. His asking price may also be low due to the fact that PSG are trying to move on players to balance their books.
#5 Thomas Partey, Atletico Madrid
The 27-year-old Ghanian has been linked with almost every club over the last 3 transfer windows. The Atletico Madrid midfielder, is reportedly available for a fee of €50 million. Arsenal and Manchester United have shown interest in signing Thomas Partey this summer.
With the exit of Javi Martinez from Bayern Munich, the injury problems faced by Frenchman Corentin Tolisso, and the question marks on Thiago Alcantara's future, Bayern Munich may be looking to sign a quality midfielder this summer.
Partey has all the qualities Hansi Flick and Bayern Munich require from a central midfielder. He is strong, tenacious and quick. Partey is not alien to the concept of a high press either, having played under Diego Simeone for the better part of 5 seasons.
