Bayern Munich pipped Borussia Dortmund to the Bundesliga title last weekend after BVB drew 2-2 with Mainz 05.
The Bavarians beat FC Koln to clinch their 11th consecutive championship, but quickly announced the departure of sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic and CEO Oliver Kahn.
It was a ruthless move from Die Rekordmeister, but it showed they knew something had to change.
Bayern won the title due to BVB’s ineptness. Their performance against Manchester City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League highlighted their deficiencies.
They have replaced Kahn with the vice-chairman of the board Jan-Christian Dreesen. They are still looking for a new sporting director and have several options on their radar.
However, they have plenty of work to do this summer to set them back on the path to dominance. Uli Hoeness and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge have returned to the club to help with the process.
They will form a transfer committee alongside Dreesen, Michael Diederich and head coach Thomas Tuchel. They have several issues to deal with, and we analyse them.
Replacing Benjamin Pavard
France international Benjamin Pavard wants to leave the club this summer and has interest from several top clubs.
Die Rekordmeister don’t want to let the versatile defender leave, but they don’t have a choice with 12 months remaining on his deal.
Pavard covers centre-back and right-back for Bayern, and they must find someone that can do the same.
They may have to sign two players to replace the former Stuttgart man if they don’t find an equally versatile option.
Pavard has been one of Bayern’s most consistent performers this season, but they must start pushing for a replacement with his departure likely.
Renewing contracts
Alphonso Davies’ agent, Nedal Huoseh, confirmed that contract talks had halted when Salihamidzic and Kahn were axed.
Salihamidzic played a crucial role in bringing Davies to Bayern and was in talks with the left-back’s camp over a renewal.
Huoseh said they have to stop those talks now to understand the situation at the club. Davies’ contract runs until 2025.
Bayern must act quickly, with Real Madrid sniffing around the Canadian international. Los Blancos are searching for a new left-back and have their sights set on him.
The German giants will want to avoid him leaving for free in the same way they lost David Alaba to the 14-time Champions League winners.
Bayern must also sign Joshua Kimmich up to a new contract soon. Like Davies, he has two years left on his deal, and Barcelona are lurking.
They are reportedly considering a move for the German international this summer. A deal is unlikely now due to their financial problems.
However, they could return for him next year. If he has not signed a new deal by then, he’ll have only 12 months left, forcing Bayern’s hands.
Kimmich is a crucial player for Bayern, and they would hate to lose him at the peak of his powers.
Smart signings
Bayern have a reputation for making savvy signings. They know how to find good deals in the transfer market.
One of their oldest tricks is preying on rival players with expiring contracts. Enter Borussia Dortmund left-back Raphael Guerreiro, who is leaving BVB this summer after seven years.
The Portugal international will be a free agent this summer, and Bayern are considering an offer to sign him. He would compete with Davies for the left-back spot.
They are also looking at Adrien Rabiot – another free agent this summer. He could give the Bundesliga champions cover in midfield.
The Frenchman will leave Juventus this summer after having arguably his best season. Several clubs are vying for his signature.
Big money signings
There are still massive gaps in the Bayern squad that they will need money to rectify.
They need a centre forward to lead their line. A primary reason for their struggles this season was the lack of a dynamic world-class striker.
While Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting did his best to fill the void, Bayern require a striker of a higher calibre.
Sadio Mane has not impressed as a striker since arriving last summer to replace Robert Lewandowski.
Mane could even be sold this summer, especially after his physical assault on Leroy Sane.
All their options are expensive. Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur), Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt), and Victor Osimhen (Napoli) will cost upwards of €100 million.
Bayern must decide which of these strikers they are ready to bet on and pull the trigger.
They prefer Kolo Muani, but they have not pushed to close the deal.
Bayern also need a defensive midfielder who will allow Joshua Kimmich the license to push forward. They are trying to sign Declan Rice.
The West Ham United star is adept at breaking up opposition play and keeping things ticking. However, the Hammers are demanding over £100 million to let him go.
Arsenal are ahead of the German club in the race. If the Gunners pip Bayern to Rice’s signing, they must find other likely expensive signings.
What to do with Thomas Muller and Sadio Mane
Thomas Muller started only 21 Bundesliga games this season. The 33-year-old has looked like a superhero without his powers with Lewandowski out of the equation.
Muller bagged seven goals and eight assists in the league, but his influence is waning. He will likely see less and less game time going forward.
As for Mane, the club wants to sell him, but he does not want to leave.
However, the Bavarians are hoping for interest from the Premier League so they can move him on.
English clubs are the only ones that can afford his high wages.
Too many goalkeepers
First-choice keeper Manuel Neuer suffered an accident on a skiing tour that has ruled him out since the 2022 World Cup ended.
Bayern tried to bring Alexander Nubel back from his loan spell at AS Monaco to replace Neuer, but he refused to return. Bayern signed Yann Sommer from Borussia Monchengladbach.
Neuer is back from his injury, Nubel will return from his loan spell and Sommer has a relatively new contract. The club must sell one of them.
They are leaning towards Sommer, who has not impressed since joining in the January transfer window. Bayern will be hoping to find a suitor for the Switzerland international.
New sporting director
Bayern must install a new sporting director quickly to help them construct a sporting vision. They are looking at RB Leipzig’s Max Eberl and Frankfurt’s Markus Krosche.
However, Eberl joined Leipzig recently and may not want to leave, while Frankfurt will be unwilling to let Krosche go.
Krosche has a contract until 2025, and he has plenty of work to do this summer with head coach Oliver Glasner leaving.
It is unclear who they will appoint, but they must move quickly.
