Bundesliga
Bayern Munich’s board member for sport Max Eberl spoke to media in Orlando ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 about transfers, contract extensions and failed dealings with Florian Wirtz and Leroy Sané.
The club’s senior figure in charge of comings and goings in the squad promised fans that Bayern are working on bringing in an “outstanding player” for the coming season, but also stressed that this job is unusually difficult this summer as the team are currently also in the USA – for up to a month – focusing on the Club World Cup.
Watch: Bayern train ahead of the Club World Cup
One player who won’t be joining the Bundesliga champions is Wirtz. “We very much could’ve imagined him coming to Bayern, but he’s now opted for somewhere else,” Eberl said of the Bayer Leverkusen playmaker, who the Werkself have confirmed is in talks with English Premier League champions Liverpool.
“That’s how it is in the transfer market. You’re annoyed in one moment, but as one door closes, another opens,” the 51-year-old continued.
Bayern have already brought in two new players for the 2025/26 campaign and indeed the Club World Cup, with Jonathan Tah and Tom Bischof arriving on free transfers. Asked about further transfer targets, Eberl refused to be drawn on specifics.
Watch: Tah joins Bayern from Leverkusen
“There are so many names,” the former Borussia Mönchengladbach and RB Leipzig sporting director stated. That was in reference to players such as Nico Williams, Rafael Leão and Bradley Barcola who have been repeatedly linked with a summer switch to Munich.
Instead, Eberl focused on the “excellent players we already have, like Michael Olise, Jamal Musiala, Harry Kane and the rest”. Those players currently available to Vincent Kompany are the ones he insists he’s concerned about right now, while also pointing out that there will be at least one spot to be filled in Bayern’s attack given the impending departures of Sané and Thomas Müller.
Referring to the former’s now-agreed deal to join Galatasaray on 1 July, Eberl explained the scenario: “We made him an offer that we feel is correct and appropriate in this market. When a player has another offer and accepts it, that’s completely normal.”
Watch: The best of Sané
The Germany international will join up with the squad in Orlando on Friday and be available for selection until 30 June. Müller, on the other hand, has agreed to play for the club until their involvement at the Club World Cup ends.
Eberl also discussed the future of Mathys Tel, who is currently competing at the UEFA U21 Euros, explaining that they are in talks with Tottenham Hotspur after his six-month loan. The club is also “open for a transfer” when it comes to Bryan Zaragoza, while they will hold talks with Kingsley Coman about his future after the Club World Cup.
In addition, the board member for sport confirmed that they are in discussions with Dayot Upamecano about a new contract, despite the intense competition that the Frenchman faces in central defence with the addition of Tah alongside Hiroki Ito, Minjae Kim and even Josip Stanišić.
The latter is more likely to be used at right-back, however, where Bayern have three options with Konrad Laimer and Sacha Boey as well. Eberl called that a “luxury”, without saying whether one would have to move on.