With the transfer window right around the corner, Bayern Munich look set to depart with two midfielders as part of their youth system: Bayern II goalscorer Lukas Görtler and U19 captain Marco Hingerl.
Six weeks after making his first team debut, Görtler will move to 1. FC Kaiserslautern, the 21-year-old reportedly signing a three-year contract and moving for a fee of €50,000. It was former Bayern president Uli Hoeneß – working in Bayern's youth department for is work release – who facilitated the transfer, according to Fussball Vorort.
"Uli Hoeneß made a big concession so the player could further develop with us," said Markus Schupp, Kaiserslautern's sporting director.
Görtler scored 11 goals in 27 Regionalliga Bayern appearances with Bayern II, second on the team to Gerrit Wegkamp. He made his first team debut in Bayern's 0-2 loss against Bayer Leverkusen, playing 19 minutes in relief of Claudio Pizarro. He leaves just one year into a two year deal he signed last summer on a free transfer from Eintracht Bamberg.
Schupp added: "Lukas Görtler is a talented player with a great mentality, who can already play three different sides of the final third and has continuously developed there. He is variably insertable in the offense, was an absolute service provider in Bayern's second team, and can draw from experience in Guardiola's squad. On the Betzenberg, he can go to the next step of his development."
Hingerl is the other Bayern academy player due to depart, Abendzeitung and kicker both reporting the 19-year-old captain is going to join SC Freiburg in the summer. The Briesgau club is reportedly trying to revamp their squad after their six-year run in the Bundesliga came to an end.
Hingerl is currently part of the Germany U19 team as they get set to undertake the UEFA U19 Euro Championship, although he has made just six appearance for Markus Sorg, most of which came off the bench. Bayern included him in their trip to Qatar in January, Hingerl getting looks against the Qatari All-Star team and Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal. Hingerl made 28 appearances for Bayern U19 in all competitions, but missed a few weeks with a groin issue.
"Marco is a variably insertable player who always pushes to the top," said Freiburg sporting director Klemens Hartenbach.
Freiburg will reportedly send Hingerl to the reserve team in the Regionalliga Südwest, the same division where Bayern's DFB-Pokal first round opponent FC Nöttingen plays its domestic football. From there, he is tasked to one day break into the first team.