With Bayern Munich’s midfield still crowded and the transfer window slowly starting to ease into the final stretch, RB Leipzig has reportedly decided to throw out its own internal policies in hopes of procuring the services of Die Roten defensive midfielder Sebastian Rudy.
Per a report by Sport Bild, Leipzig is serious about making an offer to Bayern to bring in the German international. With this type of pursuit, Ralf Rangnick, who is currently filling a dual role as sporting director and coach, must have a strong feeling that Rudy can be an impactful player for Die Roten Bullen.
According to SPORT BILD’s information, first contact has already been made with Rudy’s management, which when asked declined to comment on the plans. Behind the scenes Rangnick is already exploring the possibility of changing his ex-player. Rangnick brought Rudy from VfB Stuttgart to Hoffenheim in 2010. Nagelsmann once credited Rudy with a “decider gene” at TSG.
RB would even break its own transfer philosophy once. The Leipzig guidelines set a maximum salary of around four million euros and an age limit for signings of at most 24. Rudy is already 28 years old. In addition, his annual salary in Munich is over four million euros, since he came from Hoffenheim on a free transfer in 2017. The Munich player would certainly not sign for less.
With a young, athletic, and hungry core group of players, RB Leipzig could benefit from the veteran presence, leadership, and attention to detail the 28-year old midfielder could provide. At times last season, Leipzig was defensively absent as it pressed forward without much regard for eventually having to stop its opposition.
For Rudy, the move would represent more playing time and a salary increase. Rudy’s currently salary is roughly €3.48M, so the move would possibly represent a boost of over €500K annually if the report is accurate.
Exclusive: RB Leipzig wants to buy Sebastian Rudy from @FCBayern @SPORTBILD @DieRotenBullen
— Christian Falk (@cfbayern) August 1, 2018
Where Rudy may fit under Kovač if he stays
Rudy, who struggled to find consistent field time under Jupp Heynckes, was one of the few players who Carlo Ancelotti had a feel for how to use. Rudy’s skill-set and versatility to play any position within the central midfield, while also being able to fill-in at right back, was thought to be the type of player that Niko Kovač might embrace. Because of a roster overload, however, Bayern may just need to sell or loan a few players just to make the situation manageable for Kovač.
Rudy would seemingly be in competition with Javi Martinez and Renato Sanches for a more defensive slot should Kovač align his players in a traditional format. Given Martinez has not exactly been in top form over the past two years and Sanches is a huge question mark for a number of reasons, Bayern could find itself asking a more offensive midfielder to play outside his own comfort zone on occasion if Rudy departs.
Bayern’s midfield madness
While Rudy still could potentially fill a valuable role for Bayern this season, the roster is just too loaded with talent; particularly in the central midfield. Arturo Vidal is rumored to be headed to Inter Milan, but even if Rudy and Vidal do exit, Bayern is still left with a potential powder keg of a situation as Thomas Müller, James Rodriguez, Leon Goretzka, Corentin Tolisso, Thiago Alcantara, Martinez, and Sanches would all be left competing for time at three or four spots (likely three), depending on how Kovac sets his lineup.
It will be interesting to see how Bayern handles Leipzig’s interest in Rudy. With the aforementioned potential of a Vidal to Inter Milan deal and Thiago heavily linked to clubs like Barcelona, Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester United, it could be a thinning of a very talented and versatile herd within the Bayern midfield group.