Bayern Munich’s failures this season to accelerate recruitment drive in the summer

FOOTBALL Bayern Munich’s failures this season to accelerate recruitment drive in the summer

Mark Kinyanjui 13:25 - 26.04.2023

The Bavarian giants have had a poor season by their high standards.

Bayern Munich CEO, Oliver Kahn has admitted that the Bavarian club will look to invest in the makeup of the squad this summer following a rather disappointing season by their high standards.

Under new manager, Thomas Tuchel, Bayern suffered the humiliation of losing 3-1 to Mainz just fresh from getting knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals to Manchester City last week.

The club sacked Julien Nagelsmann in March following claims of his poor man-management issues, which also created a knock-on effect on the club’s inconsistent results.

“We are always working on improving the squad. We will see what’s possible,” Khan said.

There was once again much talk about a lack of confidence and rhythm inside the forward line but those things only become relevant when you do not have a goal-scorer who delivers irrespective of what happens behind him.

For nine years, Bayern had Robert Lewandowski scoring goals in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health. The marriage had broken down last summer, necessitating a divorce. 

Bayern have now realized that their attempts to fill the void with a collective of hybrid forwards have failed.

The legendary former goalkeeper admitted the experiment with a more fluid system, supposedly spearheaded by new recruit Sadio Mane, was not just born out of the tactical wishes of Julian Nagelsmann but also the club’s financial limitations.

“We tried everything to replace (Lewandowski), including with the number nine we saw today,” Bayern’s Executive Chairman said. “But how many strikers are like Lewandowski in Europe? Those who are at that level are incredibly expensive.”

Although Cameroonian forward Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has been a reliable scorer this season scoring 10 league goals, the 33-year-old has struggled to replicate Lewandowski’s movement and lethal finishing all season.

There has been speculation that they will buy their first €100m player in an effort to guarantee more goals but even that might not be enough to lure their preferred option, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen across the Alps.

Competition for the Nigerian will be fierce. French international Randal Kolo Muani of Eintracht Frankfurt is another option under consideration. 

The 24-year-old might be more affordable. He, too, however, will have plenty of other suitors, including more financially stable Premier League sides.