Bayern Munich has still only made three signings: Benjamin Pavard, Lucas Hernandez, and Jann-Fiete Arp. While all three players are quality signings, the club is facing increased pressure to make more signings before the start of the next campaign. Niko Kovac has already said that, realistically, he would like to have at least four more players signed, and at least one more winger. The board has received a great deal of disapproval, but former Bayern striker Sandro Wagner feels that Bayern should not be criticized for its lack of transfer activity.
In an interview with Bild am Sonntag (via SportBild), Wagner stressed that Bayern’s front office should be trusted, and that they shouldn’t be judged simply by the number of transfers they bring in:
Kalle [Karl-Heinz Rummenigge], Uli [Hoeneß] and Brazzo [Salihamidzic] should be trusted and left to work in peace. I don’t think Bayern has been that bad for the past 30 years. Now it’s almost ridiculous that you’re publicly celebrated for buying as many players as you can. It is more commendable if, like Tottenham or Bayern, you rely on your team from last year and only do something at certain points to really develop your team — and not to satisfy the public with names and sums.
One thing Wagner didn’t necessarily agree with regarding Bayern’s transfer policy, though, was the sale of Mats Hummels back to Borussia Dortmund. The striker feels that it wasn’t the best move for Bayern to get rid of him:
The fact that Mats now plays for Dortmund again is the only thing that worries me. I don’t like it at all, but that’s just my opinion as a Bayern fan. I also spoke to Mats, and, unfortunately, I was able to understand his intentions 100%.
In the Chinese Super League with Tianjin Teda, Wagner has scored 3 goals and provided 1 assist in 14 appearances; his side is currently 7th in the CSL table, 20 points behind first-place Beijing Guoan. Still, Bayern is the club that he holds near and dear to his heart, having spent most of his boyhood with the youth teams before making his break into first team football in the top flight. His former Bayern teammates still keep in touch with him, he revealed (via Augsburger Allgemenie), and a lot of them reached out to him after Bayern secured their seventh consecutive Bundesliga title:
Almost the entire team sent me pictures and videos after the league and Pokal wins, which made me unbelievably happy. Bayern will continue to be champions with this team for years — even if no new signings are made, which I don’t believe will happen.