How have Bayern Munich got on in the summer transfer window? Here’s a look at their dealings so far and an update on what to expect in January.
Net spend (estimated)
-€75.5 million.
Completed signings
Corentin Tolisso (Lyon) €41.5m; James Rodriguez (Real Madrid) two-year loan for €13m; Niklas Sule (Hoffenheim) €20m; Sebastian Rudy (Hoffenheim) Free; Serge Gnabry (Werder Bremen) €8m, loaned to Hoffenheim for €1m.
Potential signings
None.
Players missed out on
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal).
Potential January targets
Bayern do not normally do business in January — only youth talent would come under consideration.
Players promoted to first-team squad
Marco Friedl, Christian Fruchtl, Felix Gotze, Fabian Benko.
Completed sales
Douglas Costa (Juventus) one-year loan for €6m; Holger Badstuber (free).
Potential sales
Renato Sanches — loan.
Players who can’t be moved out
None.
Players due for contract renewal
Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery
Areas of squad still with shortcomings
A back-up striker for Robert Lewandowski has been badly needed for a couple of seasons, but Bayern appear reluctant to “upset” their main striker by bringing in someone who can also make a difference in crunch Champions League games when Bayern’s durable top scorer suddenly goes missing — i.e. Bayern’s quarterfinal first leg defeat to Real Madrid last season.
However, high calibre players who are content to languish on the bench for long periods remain few and far between.
Has this been a good transfer window for the club?
Record signing Tolisso and Hoffenheim duo Rudy and Sule have all started impressively on the pitch, while James was injured in the Audi Cup.
But, the marketing people will not mind too much as the dashing Colombia international has attracted 10m+ extra social media followers from South America.
Mark Lovell covers Bayern Munich for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter: @LovellLowdown.