Who can provide Bayern's magic without Musiala?

Just as Musiala looked like he was going to be back to his best in Bayern colours, an unfortunate collision with Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma led to him being stretchered off the pitch in the Club World Cup quarter-finals in Atlanta.

Watch: Jamal Musiala's best skills

After further assessments at the hospital, it was confirmed that Musiala would be sidelined for a lenghty spell due to a fibula fracture associated with a broken and dislocated ankle. This is devastating news for Bayern boss Vincent Kompany and his staff who were looking forward to having the playmaker back after a hamstring injury.

Bayern are again left looking for options within their ranks to replace Musiala...

Gnabry to the rescue again?

When Musiala suffered a hamstring injury on Matchday 28 of the 2024/25 season, Kompany decided to bring Serge Gnabry back into the starting fold, with the Bayern number 7 rotating alongside Thomas Müller.

In his final six appearances of the season - two of which came off the bench, Gnabry recorded four goal involvements including a fantastic solo effort in the second Der Klassiker of the season against Borussia Dortmund.

As Bayern prepare to enter a Bundesliga season for the first time since Müller's departure from the club after 17 seasons, the former Hoffenheim and Werder Bremen attacker has every chance of staking a claim in the starting XI. His versatility may yet be the solution to Bayern's problems once again.

Watch: Serge Gnabry wins April Goal of the Month!

Olise a creative solution?

Kompany spoke about the need for "creative solutions" to replace Musiala after his previous injury and with that in mind, star winger Michael Olise could be an option worth trying in that number 10 spot.

The France international enjoyed a stellar debut Bundesliga campaign, scoring 12 goals and assisting a further 15 as he helped bring the Bundesliga title back to Munich with his incredible attacking prowess.

In Musiala's absence, the winger could be an interesting solution, having proven to be a nuisance cutting into central areas from the right and using his left foot to punish opposition defences.

Olise's playmaking prowess and ability to receive between the lines makes him an exciting choice to replace Musiala in the medium term for Bayern.

Watch: All of Michael Olise's Bundesliga goals and assists so far

Bischof bonus?

Tom Bischof impressed at Hoffenheim last season with his own goalscoring prowess and his ability to get shots away in and around the opposition penalty box. After completing a move to Bayern ahead of the Club World Cup, the young German has been making all the right noises with the new season right around the corner.

Though he is typically a box-to-box midfielder, Bischof's ability on the ball and ability to score from range with his left foot make him a handful to defend against. After scoring five times from central midfield and providing two assists, it wouldn't be a surprise to see that output improve at Bayern. 

Bischof made his Bayern debut in the number 10 role against Benfica at the Club World Cup, and the chance to fill that on a regular basis in the Bundesliga could see him steal the limelight right away at his new club.

Watch: The best of Tom Bischof

Who else could be an option?

Leon Goretzka enjoyed a resurgence in the second half of the 2024/25 season and though he played most of his minutes as a defensive midfielder, the former Schalke man does like to get forward and aid the attackers with his runs into the box or shots from outside.

Raphaël Guerreiro is another who could provide a solution - the versatile Portuguese player scored four times and assisted three times in the 2024/25 season. On Matchday 25 against Bochum, he grabbed a brace starting in that number 10 spot and even started in the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals against Inter ahead of Müller.

Bayern have some young talents eager to get a chance to shine in the number 10 role, too. Paul Wanner is one who has the most Bundesliga experience after a loan spell with Heidenheim in 2024/25, where he scored three and assisted twice during the regular season and went on to get the assist for the all-important goal from Léo Scienza that helped secure another year in the top-flight for Frank Schmidt's team.

Lovro Zvonarek and Lennart Karl, 19 and 17 years old respectively, are two other exciting prospects. Zvonarek has already made his senior debut in the 2024/25 campaign, whereas Karl made his first team debut against Auckland City at the Club World Cup.

With all these fascinating options to choose from, all eyes will be on who Kompany picks in the playmaker role in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup against Stuttgart on 16 August in the 2025/26 season's big curtain-raiser.