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Bayern Munich could be set to spend big this month, as much of their transfer budget has remained intact, aside from the mere £9m that was spent on Alphonso Davies in the summer.
Bayern are one of the richest clubs in Europe, so the five transfer targets on this list could all be signed by the Bundesliga champions by the end of this transfer window, should they choose to hunt them all down.
Not adding to their team at the start of the season appears to have affected Bayern Munich's form, and they currently sit second in the Bundesliga, six points behind first-place Borussia Dortmund. The two clubs are fierce rivals, so this simply won't do for a club of Bayern's size and prestige.
In this list, we'll take a look at five players who have been closely linked with the German champions and determine just how probable it is that we'll see them in a Bayern Munich shirt by the end of the window.
#5 Benjamin Pavard (VfB Stuttgart)
Benjamin Pavard is a 22-year-old centre-back who plays for VfB Stuttgart in the Bundesliga. He has also featured for France's national team, having made 18 appearances since his debut in November 2017. This summer, Pavard won the World Cup with France.
Pavard is a product of LOSC Lille's youth academy, having made the switch from the French club to Stuttgart two years ago, in the summer of 2016 for £4.5m. He's remained there ever since, having become a solid first team option; however, his days seem numbered now due to interest from high-profile clubs across Europe all vying for his signature.
After a spectacular summer which saw him win the World Cup with France, Pavard's market value soared to £31.5m, but many expect that for a club to purchase him from Stuttgart, it would cost closer to £50m.
Rumour probability: 8/10
In an interview with Kicker (via Bavarianfootballworks.com), Pavard says that "everything is open" regarding his future. Given he's close to the top of Bayern Munich's list of transfer targets this month, this statement will be music to the ears of Bayern's board.
VfB Stuttgart are in 16th place right now, which makes the prospect of heading to a club closer to the top an ideal offer. But some have suggested that he'd be better off staying to help out Stuttgart in their quest for survival this season, so whether he'll end up leaving is anyone's guess.
#4 Thorgan Hazard (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Thorgan Hazard is a 25-year-old left winger who plays for Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga. He has also featured for Belgium's national team, having made 19 appearances since his debut in May 2013. He is the younger brother of Chelsea's Eden Hazard.
Thorgan took a different route to his brother by going through RC Lens' youth system, before joining Chelsea; Eden had gone through LOSC Lille's system. He signed for Chelsea in the summer of 2012, when he was 19 years old, for around £450k.
From here, Chelsea shipped Thorgan out on a couple of loan deals, firstly to Belgian side Zulte Waregem, then later to Gladbach, where his loan spell was so successful that the German club decided to buy him for £7m in 2015.
Thorgan Hazard is now a solid first team option for Gladbach, and has played so well over the last couple of seasons that his market value has reached around £35m.
Rumour probability: 6/10
According to Kicker (via bayernstrikes.com), Bayern are prepared to rival Borussia Dortmund to sign Hazard this January. With no concrete news about a contract renewal, the fact Hazard's contract runs out in 2020 leaves Gladbach in a tricky situation.
However, unless a large bid is made by Bayern this window, it's unlikely that Thorgan Hazard will jump ship, as he seems content at Gladbach right now.
#3 Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid)
Lucas Hernandez is a 22-year-old centre-back who plays for Atletico Madrid in LaLiga. He has also featured for France's national team, having made 15 appearances since his debut in March 2018. Hernandez won the World Cup this summer with France.
Hernandez has been with Atletico Madrid virtually all of his life, having progressed through the youth academy to get to where he is today. Although he's classed as a centre-back typically, he can also play left-back - which is the position of his younger brother, Theo Hernandez, who plays for Real Sociedad.
After he won the World Cup this summer, Hernandez's market value has soared exponentially to £54m, according to Transfermarkt.
Rumour probability: 8/10
Intothecalderon.com have reported that Lucas Hernandez has all but left Atletico Madrid following rumours that Bayern Munich are set to pay his release clause of €80m this month. They already have their eyes set on a replacement: Jonny Castro Otto from Wolves.
However, this remains speculation as of writing, and trying to pry a player away from a club he's been with for most of his career will prove difficult.
#2 Callum Hudson-Odoi (Chelsea)
Callum Hudson-Odoi is an 18-year-old left winger who plays for Chelsea in the Premier League. He has also featured for England's U19 squad, but is yet to make an appearance for England's main team.
Currently a part of Chelsea's U23 squad, Hudson-Odoi is only given opportunities in the first team sporadically, but in the games he's played, he's impressed. So much so that his market value is supposedly somewhere in the region of £20m.
Hudson-Odoi is a tricky player to defend against, as he weaves in and out of defenders with ease, utilising his speed and skills to pass virtually everybody set out to mark him.
Rumour probability: 6/10
Chelsea recently rejected a £20m bid from Bayern Munich, telling the German club that they value the midfielder at close to £40m. Sky Sports say that Bayern have made Hudson-Odoi their top target this month, but we'll see how things pan out.
#1 Timo Werner (RB Leipzig)
Timo Werner is a 22-year-old striker who plays for RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. He has also featured for Germany's national team, having made 23 appearances since his debut in March 2017.
Werner is a product of VfB Stuttgart's youth academy, and progressed through their ranks over the course of three years, before signing a professional contract with the club in the summer of 2013.
However, three years on from that day, RB Leipzig splashed out around £13m on the striker, and he promptly made the switch across.
Rumour probability: 9/10
Bild (via goal.com) reported on Timo Werner discussing his future, in which he dropped a huge hint about where he might go next.
"I've had a nice two and a half years at Leipzig, so they are in the picture [for next season]. There are other clubs in the picture. If you play in Germany and want to stay in Germany, there is only one club in question."
It's clear that if the right amount of money is put forth for Werner this month, he might just jump ship before the window closes.
