Who will Bayern bring in as the new top striker? Since Robert Lewandowski’s departure to FC Barcelona in the summer, the German record champions have been struggling, especially in attack. Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has already proven this season that he can still keep up at the age of 34, but the Cameroonian is not a real replacement for Lewandowski and things are also getting thin in the Bayern squad behind him. Only the inexperienced Mathys Tel (17) remains as a “real” center forward, but few people really believe that he is capable of a place in the starting XI. It was not for nothing that wingman Serge Gnabry (27) played in the front line in the Champions League quarter-final first leg against ManCity when Choupo-Moting had to pass.
FC Bayern looking for a striker – Oshimen, Kolo Muani, Kane & Co.
One thing is already clear: a new world-class striker should come to Munich in the summer – the only question is who exactly that will be. We take a look at the candidates who have been mentioned again and again recently:
#1 Victor Oshimen (Napoli)
The Napoli striker is not only causing a stir in Serie A at the moment. The Nigerian has already scored 21 times in the league and has played a major role in the fact that one can already dream of the championship title on Vesuvius. But Oshimen is also convincing in the Champions League, where he scored four times in five appearances, including in the round of 16 against Eintracht Frankfurt. Oshimen is considered an exciting candidate for Bayern, because the style of play with a single striker is also preferred in Munich. However: The 24-year-old has now increased his market value to a whopping 100 million euros (source: transfermarkt.de). Bayern would have to put at least this amount on the table. Oshimen still knows the Bundesliga from his time at VfL Wolfsburg, even if his commitment to the Wolves was not very successful. But not only Bayern want Oshimen, top clubs from all over the world have the attacker on the list. And he is flirting with a move to the English Premier League, as he said in an interview with “The Athletic“recently revealed. Arsenal, Chelsea or Manchester United are considered candidates.
#2 Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt)
The SGE striker is also a candidate for Bayern. The 24-year-old Frenchman has already contributed 25 goals in 27 Bundesliga games for Eintracht this season, but he shines almost as often as a preparer as he does as a finisher (12 assists, 13 goals). The international would probably not be quite as expensive as Oshimen, but not cheap either. Kolo Muani has a contract with Frankfurt until the summer of 2027 and comes loud transfermarkt.de to a market value of 65 million euros. Eintracht will probably not be satisfied with less either, there is no pressure to sell the Europa League winner. Should the international business be missed, however, Kolo Muani himself could push harder for a change of club. Recently there were different signals from the French. Those responsible for Eintracht assume that their top striker will stay, but as is well known, there are always two sides to it.
#3 Niclas Full Pitcher (Werder Bremen)
Niclas Füllkrug would certainly be a cheaper option than the first two strikers. gives its market value transfermarkt.de with 13 million euros, even if the Bremen striker would probably cost a little more. The German national player still has a contract until 2025, but seems to want to leave SV Werder after the current season. The 30-year-old has already impressively demonstrated his qualities in front of goal with 16 goals in 26 games this season, and he has also scored six times for the DFB-Elf (on average one goal per game). Recently it was read that the Bremen clipper also wants to include national coach Hansi Flick in his future plans. It is difficult to imagine that the former Bayern coach Füllkrug would advise against moving to Munich. Of course, the comparatively low transfer fee and probably also the salary expectations speak in favor of Füllkrug. But this transfer would certainly not be a real investment in the future. It is also questionable whether Füllkrug can repeat his good performance this season in the coming seasons. But it would be exciting if a former cluber (Füllkrug made 59 appearances for 1. FC Nürnberg) became FC Bayern’s great storm hope.
#4 Marcus Thuram (Borussia Monchengladbach)
Another candidate known from the Bundesliga is Marcus Thuram. The Frenchman’s biggest advantage: he doesn’t cost a fee because his contract in Gladbach is expiring. And Thuram has already announced that he no longer wants to extend his working paper for the foals. Of course, a free transfer striker of this stature also arouses desires elsewhere, not just in Munich. The 25-year-old has a market value of €32m and has netted 13 times this season. In addition to FC Bayern, Inter Milan, FC Barcelona, FC Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are also potential buyers. Thuram would be affordable for Bayern, but Thuram is not considered a really big solution.
#5 Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)
The name Harry Kane has been on Bayern’s list for a long time – actually since Lewandowski’s departure. Kane was quickly considered a possible successor to the Pole. The 29-year-old has demonstrated his qualities in front of goal often enough, both at the club and in the English national team. Also in the current season, Kane scores extremely often (23 league goals), on average he only needs 121 minutes per goal. Kane’s market value is estimated at 90 million euros. But: His contract expires in the summer of 2024. So Tottenham need to sell if possible this summer to generate a fee if Kane doesn’t extend his contract. A ‘price tag’ for the Tottenham captain was also revealed recently. Despite the contract expiring in the foreseeable future, the Premier League club is asking 100 million pounds (114 million euros) for the top striker – possibly too much for Bayern. In addition, financially strong competition from England such as ManUnited is also vying for Kane’s services.
#6 Rasmus Hojlund (Atalanta Bergamo)
The name Rasmus Höjlund is still relatively new in the race. The 20-year-old is one of the names the club management wants to talk to coach Thomas Tuchel about, reported “Sport Bild” on Wednesday. Höjlund (market value 35 million euros) is under contract with the Italian club Atalanta Bergamo until 2027. The Danish national soccer player has scored seven goals in the current Serie A season so far. According to that sports picturereport, Bayern have made an appointment with Tuchel in six weeks to talk about the squad for the coming season.
#7 Goncalo Ramos (Benfica)
The last name on the list of candidates is certainly the most unknown in the world of football – but also possibly the most exciting. Ramos is 21 years old and plays for Portuguese giants Benfica under German coach Roger Schmidt. With Ramos, Benfica are currently leaders in Portugal and have reached the quarter-finals of the CL. Ramos has scored 17 times in 24 games in the league and three times in nine games in the Champions League. The 1.85 meter tall right footer made his debut in Portugal’s national team last November and has since scored four goals in seven international matches. Of course, interested parties are also queuing up at Ramos. In addition to Bayern, this also includes ManUnited, Real Madrid, but also top Italian clubs such as AC Milan and Juventus Turin. But Bayern are said to have good chances. Ramos’ market value is 40 million euros, according to media reports he has a release clause of 120 million euros.
When it comes to record national player and ex-Bayern captain Lothar Matthäus, the new Bayern top striker is definitely not called Harry Kane. “Kane would be too old and too expensive for me,” wrote the 62-year-old Franke in his Column for the TV channel Sky and spoke instead of the 29-year-old from Tottenham for Füllkrug: “The price-performance ratio could speak for Niclas Füllkrug. He would probably be available for 20-25 million and also makes 25 pieces in Munich. He already hits Werder 20 times.”
Matthäus is generally “curious” whether a new attacker will come to Munich in the summer. “Everyone is talking about Victor Osimhen because he is sensational in Naples. You never know whether he can do it in Munich, but I think he would be a good fit,” wrote Matthäus. Randal Kolo Muani from Eintracht Frankfurt “may need a little more space than a Bayern striker usually has, but he’s also good in the penalty area and could work in Munich,” said the ex-professional.
Matthäus: Better a filling jug than Kane – an ex-clubber for FC Bayern?
According to media reports, Kane should not leave London for less than 100 million euros. It is unclear whether Bayern would even spend that much money. Especially since, according to Matthäus, some financial mistakes have already been made recently. “Why did you afford a defense for a quarter of a billion euros instead of putting something on top of it at Haaland? Just imagine if he played in red and not in light blue on Wednesday…” wrote Matthäus with a view to that Second leg in the Champions League, in which Bayern go 3-0 down. Incidentally, Haaland also scored in the first meeting.
Bayern had also been interested in signing the Norwegian last year, but he ended up moving from Borussia Dortmund to Manchester City and now scores almost at will for coach Pep Guardiola’s team. A new top striker seems necessary, above all because Robert Lewandowski’s departure to FC Barcelona has not yet been compensated.
with dpa
