Hoeness: Bayern Munich has confirmed but not announced major transfers; James still undecided

In an appearance on the program CHECK24 Doppelpass Sunday (Bild). Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness spoke at length about the club’s future plans on the transfer market as it inches closer to a major squad renewal after the current season. The biggest bombshell of the evening: Hoeness announced that Bayern have already arranged major incoming transfers, but they have refrained from announcing them:

Like the English say, “It’s [sic] more to come!” If you only knew what we had already confirmed for next season! But if we already announced now who we all already had, then everyone who’s still here will get mad. And we need them now, because we still have major goals this season.

Hoeness declined to offer any further details, but he commented on three players: James Rodriguez, RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner, and Atletico Madrid’s Lucas Hernandez. With respect to James, everything remains undecided:

The option runs until mid-May. A decision has not yet been made. If we activate [the purchase option], he has to stay. It depends whether Kovac says “I want to keep him” or not.

Ask about Werner, Hoeness played coy:

Timo Werner? Is that a soccer player? Stating a transfer, for next season or the one thereafter — he’s under contract until 2020 after all — we have no comment about that.

Hoeness acknowledged that Bayern intend to “do something” with their central defense, but described the club’s interest in Atletico’s highly touted center-back, whose release clause they considered signing during this past winter window, as either-or:

We definitely have to do something in our central defense. That’s lukewarm. Hernandez. Either case is possible.

Hermandez’s price — his transfer fee is estimated to be approximately €85m — will not deter the club: “If he’s good, I’d pay it. He’s a world champion,” Hoeness said.

For now, the club is biding its time. Bayern has money in the bank and is prepared to spend. The club management will consult when the time comes:

We’ll make the decision jointly, when transfers might become more expensive. We’ve saved. We’re well prepared for the summer. Our sporting director has everything under control.