Bayern Munich officially announced the signing of Portuguese midfielder Palhinha yesterday, sparking speculation about a potential reshuffle in Bayern’s midfield. German football legend Dietmar Hamann believes that Bayern’s current midfield is excessively bloated, and national team player Leon Goretzka may become a casualty of the squad’s rejuvenation.
Bayern’s long-standing desire for a “true number 6” has been well-documented, with former head coach Thomas Tuchel expressing this wish on multiple occasions last season. Now, Tuchel’s successor, Vincent Kompany, faces the daunting task of quickly integrating this current Portuguese international into the team. The industry is paying close attention to the impending changes in Bayern’s squad, and former German international Hamann wrote in his column that the arrival of Palhinha could lead to one or two midfielders leaving Bayern this summer.
In his column for Sky Sports Germany, Hamann wrote: “From the very beginning of pre-season training camp, Kompany will have to address crucial matters concerning the squad. You cannot start a new season with seven to eight midfield players, as it would cause extreme chaos.” Who will be left out of Bayern’s plans for the new season? Hamann believes that despite being an “outstanding player,” homegrown talent Goretzka will struggle to gain an advantage in the intense competition. Hamann wrote: “If Goretzka and Laimer stay, they might only rank behind Palhinha and the 20-year-old Pavlovic as the fourth or fifth choice in midfield, a position that would clearly not be acceptable to the players involved.”
Regarding Goretzka, who has made 57 appearances for the German national team, Hamann believes that selling him will be a key objective for Bayern in the summer transfer window. He wrote: “Goretzka’s price tag could be between 30 to 40 million euros, let’s see if any club is willing to pay that amount. Currently, Bayern does not hold a strong negotiating position because potential buyers are well aware that Bayern needs to sell, so the deal won’t go through smoothly. Sporting director Eberl and his team must be well-prepared.”