Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirms Mats Hummels is staying at Bayern Munich

Mats Hummels has struggled to maintain a consistent starting role at center-back under Niko Kovac, which has prompted speculation that the 30-year- old is exploring the idea of leaving Bayern Munich. Kovac’s preference for Niklas Sule and Jerome Boateng has meant Hummels has started and played the full 90 minutes on only 7 of a total of 16 matches.

Despite the increased speculation that Hummels might want a winter move away from Bayern, club CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed after Bayern’s 1-0 win over RB Leipzig that the center-back definitely will not be going anywhere this winter. Last week, Bild had reported that Hummels was severely dissatisfied with his lack of playing time, but Rummenigge said there’s no chance of him leaving (via az):

That’s not correct. I had a conversation with Mats a few days ago; he will definitely play for us in the Rückrunde.

Rummenigge’s firm statement reinforced what sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic had said after Bayern’s 3-3 draw with Ajax in the Champions League:

He’s currently a German national player, so there is no thought at all [of a transfer].

Additionally, Boateng had steered clear of commenting on the speculation of a potential Hummels winter transfer after the draw with Ajax, saying that all of the center backs are more than capable of playing well with one another:

I think that Niki [Sule] and I work well together on the pitch. But in general it doesn’t matter whether Mats or I or Niki play. All three of us can play well with one another. It’s true that if you play at Bayern Munich, you have to anticipate that you’ll also sit on the bench.

Hummels’s current contract with Bayern runs until June 2021. However, if he continues to see reduced minutes for the remainder of the season, who knows where his head will be — he’d have every right to explore his options elsewhere, with all due respect.

That said, Hummels put in a solid shift against Leipzig in what was his 100th match for Bayern across competitions: