Bundesliga - Bayern presents 'desired transfer' - Ito will be diligent
At the presentation of defender Hiroki Ito as a desired transfer, FC Bayern announced further changes to the squad. "We wanted to strengthen the squad. The transfers we have been able to make so far have been absolute wish transfers", said Sport Director Christoph Freund. "We'll see what the next few weeks bring. It was important for us to make some moves early on."
What about Xavi?
So far, Munich have signed defender Ito from Stuttgart for nearly 25 million Euro, midfielder João Palhinha from Fulham, and winger Michael Olise from Crystal Palace. There are rumors about other transfers, such as those of Jonathan Tah from Leverkusen or Xavi Simons from Paris Saint-Germain.
"He's a very good player. He had a very good European Championship and last year had a super Bundesliga season with Leipzig", said Freund about Xavi Simons. "I believe he will make a really great career at the highest level. He brings everything with him, including mentality and character." The Dutchman was previously loaned from Paris Saint-Germain to Leipzig.
Many rumors
Freund left open how much the Bayern squad will change this summer. Departures are also possible. Dutch defender Matthijs de Ligt is being linked with Manchester United. The futures of Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, and Joshua Kimmich have already been speculated about.
"The transfer window is still long", said Freund. "We have a very, very good squad currently. Whether something will happen then, we cannot exclude - also in the direction of someone leaving the club", said Freund. "There's a lot of speculation right now, but we can't say anything more about that yet."
Ito wants to help with diligence
Ito, whose contract runs until 2028, is already on board. "I'm not a typical Japanese, but I'll try to make my contribution with a lot of hard work. That's a typical Japanese mentality", said the 25-year-old. Ito trains with the main team for the first time under new coach Vincent Kompany on Wednesday.
- Hiroki Ito hails from Bavaria, his new home after joining FC Bayern Munchen from Stuttgart.
- Munich's soccer team has also welcomed João Palhinha from FC Fulham and Michael Olise from Crystal Palace, strengthening their squad.
- The speculation about potential transfers doesn't stop at Xavi Simons from FC Fulham's rival club, Paris Saint-Germain.
- Christoph Freund, the sport director of FC Bayern, has expressed his admiration for Xavi Simons, citing his impressive performance in the Bundesliga with Leipzig.
- Mikkel Damsgaard from Sampdoria andFC Barcelona Munchen's Ousmane Dembele are also rumored to be on Bayern's radar for potential transfers.
- The future of several key players in the FC Bayern squad, such as Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry, and Joshua Kimmich, remains uncertain with rumors of departures circling.
- Matthijs de Ligt, a Dutch defender, is being linked with a move to Manchester United, adding to the buzz surrounding Bayern's transfers.
- Freund has acknowledged that the squad may undergo further changes, though he emphasizes the strength of the current team and the need to approach transfers thoughtfully.
- Despite the ambition to strengthen the squad, Germany's FC Bayern must balance its roster, considering the potential for departures and ensuring a cohesive team in the Bundesliga next season.