Opinion
Bavaria’s transfer policy is a pile of rubble
The upcoming farewell to João Palhinha shows that FC Bayern Munich has no long -term strategy for its transfers. Sports board member Max Eberl could already make the next mistake.
What was that drama on Säbener Straße: In the summer of 2023, the Munich failed when trying to hire João Palhinha. The Portuguese had already passed the medical check, but the deal burst at the Deadline Day – almost at the last second – since FC Fulham did not release the midfielder.
A year later, the transfer succeeded in the second attempt. FC Bayern brought Palhinha out of the Premier League for over 50 million euros. He was considered a desired transfer of the then coach Thomas Tuchel, who fervently called for a “holding six” – a defensive midfielder who ensures stability before defense. Tuchel’s most urgent wish was fulfilled – and he himself released in the same year after a Titelle season.
A year later, in the summer of 2025, Palhinha should also be gone again. The 30-year-old Portuguese could not meet the high expectations. In the past Bundesliga season, he hardly ran right from the start. Now there is obviously a return to the Premier League: According to media reports, FC Bayern and Tottenham Hotspur have agreed on a loan with a purchase option. You no longer want to hold the “holding six” at the record champions. The expensive misunderstanding symbolizes a messed up transfer policy.
Repair work instead of squad planning
The chaos around Palhinha is not an isolated case in Munich. Similar mistakes were made in the past: Ex-sports director Hasan Salihamidžić invested a total of 137.5 million euros in the players Sadio Mané, Matthijs de Ligt, Nousussair Mazraoui, Ryan Gravenberch, Yann Sommer and Mathys Tel. She all left the record champion within two and a half years.
The current sports director Max Eberl is apparently planning to continue this tradition by placing Palhinha on the sales list after only one year in Munich. This finally proves: The transfer concept of FC Bayern is a pile of rubble – if you can even speak of a concept.
Eberl is currently mainly busy stuffing gaps. Repair work instead of squad planning. He compensated for the departure of wing player Leroy Sané to the Turkish club Galatasaray Istanbul by buying the Colombian Luis Díaz – supposedly for a whopping 75 million euros. With this expensive transfer, Eberl goes to risk, because Díaz is difficult to deal with.
Actually, it also takes a replacement for Jamal Musiala. The midfielder fails for months after his broken fabric at the club World Cup. His congenial DFB buddy Florian Wirtz was too expensive for Munich with a price of 150 million euros. Liverpool grabbed instead. Serge Gnabry could be an internal solution, but it is permanently in the form of form.
There is no strategy at FC Bayern
In Nick Woltemade from VfB Stuttgart, the Munich people have already found their agile offensive player for the center – at least theoretically. The 23-year-old’s price tag practically scare. Stuttgart is said to demand significantly more than 60 million euros. For weeks, the Swabians Max Eberl have been running through the ring at the nose ring: Woltemade and FC Bayern have long since agreed on a change, but VfB rejected two offers from the record champions.
A higher offer is obviously not planned. It is hoped that the stubborn Stuttgart team will steer. Eberl threatens to fail in the poker to fail the international, the pressure on him increases. According to a report by the British “Sun”, the Premier League clubs Manchester United and Newcastle United are also interested in Woltemade.
The sports director can almost sorry. It is hardly possible for him to work in peace. Also because honorary president Uli Hoeneß always commented on the edge. “The Woltemade case is still in the balance,” said Hoeneß recently. “I think he is a very, very good player who would suit us and I would very much welcome it if it works this year – and if not, then next year.”
Woltemades Transfer to FC Bayern is by no means off the table. But even if the deal should still work in the end, it would not be particularly original. Because the 1.98 meter tall Hühne has just triggered a hype because he played a strong Bundesliga return. Before that it was quiet around him. So you can’t have had it on your piece in Munich for too long. There is no strategy behind it. Like a lot of what FC Bayern does on the transfer market.
Source: Stern
I am Pierce Boyd, a driven and ambitious professional working in the news industry. I have been writing for 24 Hours Worlds for over five years, specializing in sports section coverage. During my tenure at the publication, I have built an impressive portfolio of articles that has earned me a reputation as an experienced journalist and content creator.
