What signings do Bayern Munich need to make in the January transfer window?

Stefan Bienkowski

• Updated: 19 May 2021 15:43 BST
• 3 min read

Bayern Munich are flying high in Europe and at home in the Bundesliga, but that doesn’t mean that Hansi Flick’s side aren’t in need of some new blood among the trophy-hoarding stars that have made up Bayern’s squad for the last few seasons. 

So where could the Bavarian giants improve upon a team that so far look just as unstoppable as they did last season? 

Defence 

Although Bayern have spent a fortune in upgrading their defence in recent seasons – they spent over £100 million on Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard last season – it is still perhaps the area of the pitch that is likely to need even more recruits. 

The club’s January activity will probably hinge entirely on David Alaba’s future. The malleable defender could leave the club if his expiring contract isn’t extended before the end of the season and if Bayern still have no reason to believe an agreement could be reached then a potential successor could be found in January. 

One possible successor to Alaba is RB Leipzig central defender Dayot Upamecano, who has been linked to the Bavarian club ever since he started making waves in the Bundesliga. 

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Midfield 

Bayern are pretty well stocked in midfield, with Javi Martinez, Leon Goretzka, Corentin Tolisso and Joshua Kimmich all fighting for two or three spots each week. A nasty injury to the latter, which should rule him out till January, may underline some unforeseen holes in Flick’s midfield between now and the end of the year, but it’s unlikely that the Bavarian club will invest a huge amount of money in January either way. 

If there is one role that could demand a sizable replacement in January, it may be for the departed Thiago Alcantara, who left in the summer for Liverpool and was never really replaced by the Bundesliga champions. 

Attack

After spending £41 million (€45m) on bringing Leroy Sane to the club in the summer, Bayern have already added an exceptional talent to a forward line that was already bursting at the seams with quality to begin with. Sane joins Serge Gnabry, Douglas Costa and Kinglsey Coman as more than enough firepower for either of Bayern’s two wing positions. 

Similarly, the signing of Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting alongside Robert Lewandowski and Thomas Muller suggests Flick won’t be worrying about sources for goals before the end of the season. 

Conclusion 

As has come to be expected from one of the best run super clubs in world football at the moment, Bayern don’t have a huge amount of issues that need immediate attention in the coming January transfer window. 

Instead, the German giants may prefer to do some simple housekeeping during the winter break and prepare for potential issues on the horizon. Replacements for the like of Alaba or perhaps Jerome Boateng are probably the most we can expect from Bayern in January, and even then the club may prefer to bring them to Munich in the summer.