Report: Noël Aséko Nkili must impress in preseason to make Bayern Munich first team

HANOVER, GERMANY - MARCH 20: Noel Aseko of Hannover 96 is seen prior to the 2. Bundesliga match between Hannover 96 and Eintracht Braunschweig at HDI-Arena on March 20, 2026 in Hanover, Germany. (Photo by Fabio Deinert/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Bayern Munich midfielder Noël Aséko Nkili is expected to return and compete for a spot in the team this summer. The youngster, currently impressing on loan at Hannover 96 in the German second flight, has been touted as one of the club’s top internal prospects for promotion.

But that promotion will not come easily. He will still have to make an impression in person first, according to a report from Sport Bild (as captured by @iMiaSanMia):

Bayern will make a decision on Noël Aséko’s future after they see how he performs in pre-season. There are considerations to make him a permanent first team member to replace Goretzka. Eintracht Frankfurt are interested and would make a move in case Bayern decided to sell. Should Bayern actually be willing to negotiate, they will certainly demand a double-digit million euro fee [@BILD]

BFW Analysis

This sounds an awful lot like the position Paul Wanner found himself in last year — before getting quickly sold to PSV Eindhoven. However, that Wanner did not make it does not mean Aséko will not, and Bayern should have more opportunity in central than attacking midfield.