Eberl speaks about leadership players and is silent on transfer plans
FC Bayern Munchen faces an additional construction site: New signing Ito injures himself in a test game and will be out for longer. In the leadership meeting, at least in terms of transfer plans, we are giving ourselves some leeway.
After the bitter injury of new signing Hiroki Ito, FC Bayern Munchen is not making hasty changes to its transfer strategy. "First of all, we have a big and very good squad. And injuries happen," said Sport Director Hasan Salihamidzic after the lackluster test game performance against 1. FC Duesseldorf.
"Now it's happening during the transfer period. And the logical question is, is something else going to happen? We have our general plan, and we will continue to follow it," Salihamidzic emphasized. Defender Ito, who had joined from Champions League participant VfB Stuttgart, suffered a midfoot fracture in a tackle during the game on Sunday. With an expected layoff of two to three months, the Japanese player is likely to miss most of the Hinrunde.
New defensive plans?
Ito's injury could influence considerations for the defensive restructuring. The Dutchman Matthijs de Ligt and the Moroccan Noussair Mazraoui are potential sale candidates. The Canadian Alphonso Davies, who has yet to agree on a contract extension with the Munich team, is entering his last contract year. The future of Joshua Kimmich is particularly intriguing. The contract of the most recently right-back used national player runs out on June 30, 2025.
Salihamidzic did not reveal any details about the transfer plan during the still open transfer window. "You'll see what's come of it on September 1st when everything is in order," the 50-year-old said. The Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah, who had been rumored as a potential Bayern signing, has meanwhile resumed training with the double champion.
Medical check for German national team players
At the beginning of the week, the crowned champions FC Bayern welcomed their EM participants like Manuel Neuer, Jamal Musiala, and the Portuguese Joao Palhinha to the squad. On Monday, Neuer & Co. greeted each other warmly during the mandatory medical examination at the hospital. They are scheduled to fly to South Korea on Wednesday.
There, the Bayern will play a test game against Harry Kane's former club Tottenham Hotspur. Kane and other long-term tournament participants are still not on the trip.
The absence of many stars could not explain the test game debacle in Juich, according to Salihamidzic. "You expect to accept such a game differently, the attitude was different. The second half was significantly better than the first. Players want to prove themselves, want to focus when the national team players aren't there, but that didn't work out today." Salihamidzic criticized the established professionals. "The youngsters are doing well. You expect more from the leading players," he said. "It was a typical cup game, uneven pitch, a highly motivated opponent whom I have great respect for their performance. We should have won that game." The 18-year-old Nestory Irankunda at least prevented a loss.
Despite Ito's injury during a test game, FC Bayern Munich remains committed to their transfer strategy in soccer. The club's robust squad and history of dealing with injuries gives them confidence during the transfer phase.
Transfers and Rumors surrounding the club continue to swirl, with the futures of Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Matthijs de Ligt, and Noussair Mazraoui under scrutiny in the soccer world.
