Bayern’s ambitious transfer hunt hits another setback | OneFootball

Bayern Munich’s summer transfer activity is drawing plenty of attention for both its high ambition and its lack of concrete progress, according to recent reporting from Bavarian Football Works and FCBInside.

Under the stewardship of Max Eberl, Bayern’s recruitment team continues to cast a wide net in the market, showing interest in high-profile attacking targets such as Nico Williams, Luis Díaz, Bradley Barcola, Jamie Gittens, Florian Wirtz, and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo. However, several of these pursuits have stalled. Williams, despite a lucrative reported offer of €12 million per year from Bayern, has once again turned down the German club’s advances and is waiting exclusively for Barcelona, as highlighted by SPORT via Barca Universal. Attempts to hijack Wirtz’s Liverpool-bound move and to sign Gittens before Chelsea closed in both failed, leaving Bayern’s efforts looking increasingly like long shots.

This pattern has prompted questions in local media about the strategy of chasing targets who seem set on other destinations, with calls for Eberl to recalibrate his approach and focus on more attainable players.

On the domestic front, negotiations with VfB Stuttgart for Nick Woltemade have hit pause. FCBInside reports that talks were tense—initially because Stuttgart wasn’t informed about Bayern’s conversations with the 21-year-old attacker. A detente between Eberl and Stuttgart sporting director Fabian Wohlgemuth has eased tensions, but both clubs have now agreed to suspend discussions until after the Club World Cup in the USA. No transfer fee has been agreed; figures from €50 million to €80 million have circulated in the media without any breakthrough. Bayern has an understanding with the player himself, who remains their “top target” for the summer, but the complexity of negotiations means swift progress seems unlikely.

Meanwhile, Bayern continue to evaluate other attacking options, with Rodrygo emerging as a possible alternative. Any move for the Brazilian would require outbidding several elite European clubs and a significant financial commitment.

Defensively, Bayern’s plans are also fluid. Internally, questions persist about João Palhinha and Kim Min-jae’s futures, and RB Leipzig’s Castello Lukeba is one name being monitored as a possible reinforcement if outgoings materialize.

As things stand, Bayern’s transfer campaign is marked more by speculation than completed deals. The club’s stated willingness to pursue top names is clear, but with many targets slipping away, pragmatic recalibration may soon be necessary to avoid another summer of frustration.

Sources: Bavarian Football Works, FCBInside, SPORT, Barca Universal.

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