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While other big European clubs are opening their checkbooks in one hand and looking to sell off surplus players in the other, Bayern Munich have been noticeably quiet. And really, what changes do the Bavarian giants need to make to improve a squad that won the Bundesliga with a 13-point gap?
David Alaba's exit to Real Madrid opened an obvious hole in the Bayern squad and the administration was quick to respond, opening the club's checkbook to bring in Dayot Upamecano for €42.50 million.
Two free transfer additions make up for the remainder of Bayern's transfer activity as at the time of this writing. Omar Richards has left Reading, making a big switch to an even bigger club, and we're looking to see how he fits into Julian Nagelsmann's plans for the German side.
Sven Ulreich also made the decision to leave Hamburg SV and return to Bayern after the end of his contract. The 32-year-old goalkeeper will take over as Manuel Neuer's backup, as previous backup Alexander Nubel has gone on loan to AS Monaco.
With only three players making their way to the Bavarian capital, much of the starting XI will likely remain the same when the season starts in full swing. Perhaps the biggest addition to the club so far is the new face in the dugout: Julian Nagelsmann.
Bayern Munich is infamous for frequently replacing managers; in fact, since Ottmar Hitzfeld left the helm of the club in 2004, only current Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has managed the club for three consecutive seasons.
Bayern fans and faithful alike will hope that 34-year-old Nagelsmann can continue to build the club, and at least stay until the end of his five-year contract.
Potential Bayern Munich starting XI for the 2021/22 season:
GK: Manuel Neuer
New signing Sven Ulreich will have to make do as backup for one of the best goalkeepers in the world: Manuel Neuer. In fact, the 35-year-old star is regarded as one of the best goalkeepers in the history of football.
Since 2011, Neuer has made 282 appearances for Die Roten, and he looks set to add at least 30 more this season. His reflexes, shot-stopping skills and ability to send the ball over the opposition defense to start counterattacks make Neuer a commanding presence between the sticks for Bayern.
With Alexander Nubel out on loan, Ulreich will take the reins whenever the number one keeper isn't in top condition to play. For most of the season, however, Nagelsmann will heavily lean on Neuer to secure the defense.
RB: Benjamin Pavard
Picking up 56 appearances since he moved to the Bavarian capital in 2019, Benjamin Pavard is expected to be in Nagelsmann's starting XI after the transfer window closes.
While his second season lacked much of the attacking input of goals and assists he had in his debut season at Bayern, the French international will be looking to pick up the slack this time out.
A consistent face in Die Roten's back four, Pavard will certainly be useful in Bayern's chase for European glory this season. Other right-backs, Bouna Sarr and Josip Stanisk, will have to make do with substitute appearances and cup games. Although he can play as a right-back, Joshua Kimmich will have his hands full in the center of the park, leaving Pavard as the main choice for the position.
CB: Dayot Upamecano
Joining the Bavarians from RB Leipzig this summer, Dayot Upamecano will be glad to see a familiar face on the training field: Nagelsmann also left the Red Bulls to join Bayern this summer. All things considered, Upamecano should have little trouble settling into life in Munich, having played in the Bundesliga - and in Europe - for over half a decade.
With Bayern veterans David Alaba and Jerome Boateng out of the club, Upamecano has big shoes to fill in the centre-back position. Whether he's up to the task will be seen as the season progresses, but for now, the 22-year-old will certainly have the backing of his former manager.
CB: Lucas Hernandez
Rising up the ranks at the Wanda Metropolitano, the French World Cup winner made the move to Bavaria in 2019. Last season, he made 33 appearances for Die Roten in the Bundesliga and Champions League, further cementing his place in the the first team of former manager Hans Flick.
While Hernandez will likely take the coveted spot beside Upamecano in the starting XI, Niklas Sule remains a strong contender. However, Sule has been linked with a move to Chelsea and the 25-year-old might see himself out of Bavaria and in Stamford Bridge before the transfer window closes.
LB: Alphonso Davies
The 20-year-old has already won the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and the Champions League in the short time he has spent with the Bavarians. Since his transfer to Bayern in 2019, Alphonso Davies has showcased consistent quality performances.
He was so good that David Alaba - Bayern's number one left-back - had to relinquish the position and move to the center of the defense.
Nagelsmann will certainly be excited to work with the world-class youngster who will certainly keep hold of the LB position. With Alaba gone, the Bavarians had to bring in a backup left-back, signing Omar Richards from Reading. It's unlikely that Richards will be a contender for the position, at least not yet.
CM: Joshua Kimmich
The 26-year-old German has been a cardinal member of Bayern's squad since 2015. Successful in central midfield positions as well as on the right flank, Joshua Kimmich is one of Bayern's most important versatile players.
The current German international picked up five goal contributions in just seven Champions League appearances last season, and his contributions will be important again if Bayern are to go far in the Champions League this season.
His performances in the Bundesliga last season were brilliant as well, as the star made 14 goal contributions in just 27 appearances. Bayern clearly have no intention of selling Kimmich and we can expect to see him start games as often as he's fit, throughout the course of the season.
CM: Leon Goretzka
Fellow German international Leon Goretzka will feature as the the second midfielder in Bayern's two-man central midfield formation. Having played on the field alongside Kimmich since 2019, Goretzka has become a formidable player for Die Roten.
Last season, the star midfielder was phenomenal for Bayern, performing consistently and providing his teammates with key passes and assists.
Bayern have a few extra players in midfield who might need to get some playing time, like Michael Cuisance and Jamal Musiala. Cuisance went on loan to Marseilles last season, while Musiala made 19 appearances as a substitute for Die Roten in the Bundesliga. Things are likely to continue the same way under Nagelsmann.
LW: Serge Gnabry
Much like other attacking players in Die Roten, Serge Gnabry is capable of playing - and performing - in nearly every position in the final third. The German international's natural position might be on the right wing, but Bayern have consistently used him on the left wing, and that is likely where Nagelsmann will play him.
While the star scored 10 Bundesliga goals last season, the previous season saw him score nine goals in 10 Champions League appeareances. He didn't score any last season in the Champions League and he'll be looking to improve on that this time around.
RW: Leroy Sane
The former Manchester City attacker didn't have the very best of seasons with the Bavarians last year. He just broke his own record for the most appearances as a substitute (14) in a single league season. But that didn't deter the star from providing the team with nine assists and six goals in the Bundesliga.
Leroy Sane has a lot of potential, and at just 25 years, is entering the prime years of his career. There will be a lot to expect from him this season, especially in the Champions League, and Sane will have to exceed those expectations as he once did for Manchester City.
AM: Thomas Muller
Bayern's starting XI will not be complete without the presence of the Raumdeuter himself. Clearly the creative pivot of the entire team sitting behind the striker, Thomas Muller transcends tactical instructions, and this has been highly beneficial for Die Roten.
The 31-year-old raked in 18 assists in the Bundesliga last season, and as shocking as that is, it's not even as good as the previous season when he raked in an astonishing 21 assists. Goals included, Muller made 29 goal contributions in just 32 league games in last season's Bundesliga.
With experience on his side and the star clearly in his prime years, Muller is set to feature in Nagelsmann's squad throughout this season.
CF: Robert Lewandowski
The centre-forward position will go to none other than Die Roten's top marksman and focal point of attack: Robert Lewandowski.
For the average striker, picking up 15 goals in a season is a worthy feat. Lewandowski, however, hasn't gone below 20 goals in any season since his early days at Borussia Dortmund. Last season, the sharpshooter scored an astonishing 41 goals in merely 29 matches, deservedly winning the Golden Shoe award.
His 41-goal season is a phenomenon, one he has not achieved in the past, and although the Polish star is in his early thirties, he has shown no signs of slowing down. Bayern's achievements this season will be nearly entirely dependent on how well Lewandowski performs.
