Bayern Munich is reportedly close to a pre-agreement with Anthony Gordon, while also considering major moves for Bradley Barcola and updates on Kai Havertz and Manuel Neuer.
The Bayern Insider: Anthony Gordon move amid major transfer updates on Barcola, Havertz & Neuer
Welcome to todayâs exclusive & comprehensive round-up of all things Bayern Munich from Bayern insider Christian Falk. Featuring updates on Bradley Barcola*, Kai Havertz, Konrad Laimer, and Anthony Gordon.*
Itâs true that Bayern Munich probably werenât good enough on the night to deserve to progress through to the Champions League final. However, it can also be true that their opponents, PSG, had luck on their side with the somewhat dubious officiating decisions at the Allianz Arena. I talked with the Bayern bosses after the match and they were really surprised that this Portuguese referee, JoĂŁo Pinheiro, was chosen by UEFA for this match. He has no prior experience in a semi-final, no experience in a quarter-final, and heâs Portuguese. Many players and bosses at PSG hail from Portugal. Officials at FC Bayern were not really confident in this referee. Also, Vincent Kompany, whoâs normally a quiet guy when youâre talking about the referee, said that he didnât know why Bayern didnât get a penalty. In the first leg, PSG got a penalty, and then nothing in the second leg.
Yes, Bayern Munich is reportedly close to arranging a pre-agreement with Anthony Gordon.
Bayern Munich is considering a significant move for Bradley Barcola this summer.
The article provides updates on Kai Havertz's situation, though specific details are not mentioned.
Updates on Manuel Neuer's future are included, but specific details are not provided in the excerpt.
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Of course, itâs true Bayern Munich didnât have the best day. Michael Olise didnât have a great game, Jamal Musiala is not yet in the shape youâd like to see (but he is coming back from a serious injury), and Serge Gnabry is missing due to injury. Manuel Neuer was the shining light in this Bayern team on the night. However, just one good Neuer is not enough to get past PSG. So, all in all, Paris makes it through to Budapest.
â Â **It is TRUE: Bayern have offered Anthony Gordon a five-year contract pending an agreement on a transfer fee with Newcastle.**In Germany, itâs not possible to give players more than five years on a deal (like you can freely do in the Premier League). Bayern Munich know theyâll have to pay a really big transfer fee for Anthony Gordon, so itâs best to spread it over the course of a long-term contract. So, this is what theyâre offering Gordon, and also to ensure that they would be able to keep hold of the Englishman for the foreseeable future.
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There are talks with the player, as weâve exclusively revealed on CF Bayern Insider. The agent from England was also already in Munich. You know, he has a German agent too, in Gordon Stipic-Wipfler. Now, the eyes are on Monday, at which point the supervisory board get together for a conference, where Max Eberl will discuss his plans for the summer. I heard they want to go all-in for an offensive player, and Anthony Gordon is at the top of the wishlist. But the transfer fee remains a problem. If weâre looking at ÂŁ80m â thatâs a lot of money for Bayern Munich.
A few weeks ago, I would have said a deal of this magnitude isnât possible. Now, I think the view of the supervisory board is shaped by the clear need for another forward player. PSG had Bradley Barcola on the bench. Bayern didnât have the same level of quality depth available to call upon. Lennart Karl is still recovering from injury and is a young talent. Nicolas Jackson doesnât have the quality Bayern are looking for (and they wonât buy him). So, they need one more player to bolster their attacking options, and this should be Anthony Gordon.
It could be true that Barcelona would like to sign Anthony Gordon. The agents are making a lot of calls, a lot of meetings, around Europe. There was a meeting with Chelsea, contact with Liverpool, contact with Arsenal⊠theyâre allowed to do that, as they know Newcastle need the money this summer to keep on the right side of Financial Fair Play. Barcelona were offered the player, but they canât afford the kind of transfer fee weâve been talking about. Bayern, on the other hand, couldpay this if they wish to. So itâs getting interesting to see whoâs joining the poker table. Iâm personally more afraid of Chelsea, as they have the resources to make a deal happen. Not to mention, they could use Nicolas Jackson as a makeweight in a potential swap deal (and we know Newcastle are interested in the Senegal international). But, I think Bayern Munich still have a good chance to get this deal done, as they were very early on the market for Gordon. They can also rely on fellow England international Harry Kane to tell the 25-year-old just how good life in Munich is!
â It is****NOT TRUE: Bayern have added Kai Havertz to their shortlist ahead of the summer. I heard the rumours a few weeks ago and checked up on it. There were no talks, no negotiations. Havertz is already thinking about next season with Arsenal. I think he would like to play for Bayern Munich in the future, but at the moment, his name wasnât discussed by the supervisory board. Heâs not, at present, on Bayernâs summer shortlist.
â Â **It is TRUE: Manuel Neuer is firmly in talks with Bayern over signing a one-year extension.**His agent was already at SĂ€bener StraĂe for negotiations. Christoph Freund, the sporting director, was confirming this. Now, there are very positive signs coming out of the club that Neuer will sign a new contract. I met him after the match, and he, of course, wasnât in the right mood to discuss his contract. However, he didnât give me the impression that this would be his final Champions League match. You saw it in his eyes and the way he talked about the semi-final exit â this wouldnât be his final comments about Bayern in the Champions League. So, Iâm very sure that weâll see the 40-year-old back on the pitch for FC Bayern for one more year. Perhaps even a door will open for the World Cup as well.
The Bundestrainer, Julian Nagelsmann, made his nomination a little later than usual, so he could take a closer look at one or two players more this season. So, perhaps, thereâs a small chance that Manuel Neuer will join up with Germany for the World Cup.
â **It is****NOT TRUE: Alphonso Davies wants to secure a transfer away from Bayern Munich this summer.**Of course, FC Bayern know that the Canadian has been struggling with injuries this term. So, there was a viewpoint that if the club were to receive a big offer for the left-back, they would have seriously discussed it. But I think recent matches have shown just how much Bayern need Davies. I had talks today about the 25-year-oldâs situation, and itâs not the case that the club feels heâs not the best option at left-back anymore. The key concern is his fitness levels, and you can see Bayern would benefit from Alphonso Davies being available on a more consistent basis. That much was certainly clear while he was sidelined in the treatment room.
I think Vincent Kompany will do everything to keep this player and get him fit again. If they want to win the Champions League â they need Alphonso Davies. So, I would say thereâs no chance at the moment for an interested party to sign him.
Bayern Munich have drawn a line in the sand over Konrad Laimerâs contract demands. Theyâve already paid a lot of money for Musiala, Davies, and Joshua Kimmichâs contract. They made him an improved offer on his current contract. Itâs said that the Austrian is earning âŹ8m-9m a year (gross). He wants more than âŹ15m, which is the point where Bayern will simply say, âNo â we wonât negotiate around this figureâ. Then he would have to leave. However, Bayernâs reasoning is that, because Laimer came in on a free from RB Leipzig, if they have to lose him on a free in 2027 (when he turns 29), that wouldnât be such a big problem. So, theyâre happy to run down his contract for another season.
Uli HoeneĂ, the godfather of Bayern Munich, who sits on the supervisory board, said that he likes Konrad Laimer. But he made it clear that the auxiliary right-back has to believe that heâs not Diego Maradona, and so a wage demand of this amount is quite a lot! If he were more heavily involved in Bayernâs successes in the Champions League and had personally steered the club to the final in Budapest, perhaps heâd have an argument to the contrary. But at the moment, thereâs no chance Laimer will be signing a new deal for the amount heâs looking for.
â **It is****NOT TRUE: Bayern are leading the race to sign Kennet Eichhorn.**Other clubs are closer to this deal. In February, there was already a meeting with Borussia Dortmund, where they tried to secure this big talent. I think RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt are also in front, as they can offer more playing time. Bayern Munich are bringing NoĂ«l AsĂ©ko back to play in this position and can also call on Tom Bischof. Then thereâs Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar PavloviÄ. So, you can see how it starts to look hard for Eichhorn to get regular playing time in Munich! This could be a big argument for the teenager to look elsewhere. And donât forget that there are still English clubs who would like to sign him. So, at the moment, Bayern are still fighting for this big talent, but theyâre not in the driverâs seat.
â Â **It is TRUE: Bayern are watching Mika Godts.**However, he hasnât broken into the top three offensive options FC Bayern are actively discussing. The Belgian could, of course, still be an option to enlarge the squad.
I made a few calls about Bradley Barcola, and I heard heâs not considered unsellable at PSG. However, you would have to come to the table with âŹ100m [ÂŁ86.4m]. So, this is hard for Bayern! Itâs more than what theyâd have to pay for Anthony Gordon. It would be an interesting option for Bayern Munich â but itâs hard to commit to at this price.
â It is****NOT TRUE: DuĆĄan VlahoviÄ is on Bayernâs radar. Bayern think heâs too expensive an option to pursue at this point in time. The salary would be a big topic in the team if they were to sign him. So heâs not on the shortlist of three players discussed inside the club. Thereâs still a hope around Yan Diomande at Bayern, but he would also cost a lot of money. So, Bayern still have their Plan A in Anthony Gordon.
â **It is****NOT TRUE:**Tornike Kvaratskhelia travelled to Munich for talks with Bayern officials. I checked this detail and itâs not true â itâs not confirmed! Bayern Munich and Khvichaâs younger brother have yet to have any contact. I donât know where this rumour is coming from but everyone I spoke to said there hasnât been a meeting.
â Â **It is TRUE: Bayern Munich have a hope that Bara Ndiaye could be another play they count on for the squad next season.**This could help in situations as weâve seen in the semi-final against PSG when the club is already dealing with an injury list. Heâs not allowed to play for the second team at Bayern Munich â just the first! So if theyâve signed him, they clearly think he has the potential and quality to play there. You donât know how far it will go, of course.
This World Squad Bayern Munich are directly connected to is proving quite fruitful. Itâs the second player where Bayern have the hope theyâve found a gem. Theyâll count on Ndiaye, but thatâs a reason for not signing other players in this position.