Bayern Munich might still be chasing a back-up for Robert Lewandowski

According to a report from tz journalist Manuel Bonke, Bayern Munich engaged in discussions this summer regarding a move for a back-up striker. Specifically, the Bavarians explored the transfers of either Max Kruse and Sebastien Haller. Both players transferred eventually during the summer window.

Kruse made the change from Werder Bremen to Fenerbahce on a free transfer, while Haller made the switch from Eintracht Frankfurt to West Ham United for €50 million, which was probably more than the Bayern front office was willing to spend.

Interesting: @FCBayern discussed a backup for @lewy_official internally over the past few months. There were discussions with the agents of Sebastien Haller & Max Kruse. Haller was too expensive for the Bavarians, while they did not view Kruse as a one-to-one replacement for Lewy. #FCBTransfersommer

Given that Bayern Munich also passed on a move for RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner this summer, it seems as if the Bavarians had a specific profile in mind if it was going to bring in a back-up for Lewandowski.

If Bayern Munich is still in pursuit of a true back-up to Lewandowski, the natural question would be: What happens to Fiete Arp? Arp, 19-year-old transfer from Hamburger SV, had a solid preseason with Bayern Munich, but has been battling an illness and a lack of first-team field time so far this season.

Does the Bayern Munich front office still have belief in Arp or are they just looking a veteran presence as a contingency measure should Lewandowski get hurt? As the Bavarians approach the winter transfer window, we should find out.

BFW Analysis

Assuming Bayern Munich really wants to make a move and has a specific kind of striker in mind, it is entirely possible that the club still likes Arp, but senses it might need one more forward with a mentality like the one that Ivan Perisic has brought to the Allianz Arena.

Who are some possibilities we could see Bayern Munich making a move for in the winter transfer window? The profile we hypothesized is as follows:

• Being relatively old
• Not requiring a lot of playing time to be effective
• Being relatively cheap
• Accepting of a back-up role
• Having a bit of hunger to chase Champions League glory now that teams can use players who make a January move

Please see below for some candidates we felt might realistically fit that profile:

• Mario Mandzukic, Juventus: Bayern Munich was linked to Mandzukic for the better part of the summer and now that the 33-year-old Croatia legend was omitted from Maruzio Sarri’s Champions League roster, he likely has no appetite to stay in Italy. Undoubtedly, Sarri would be happy to unload a player he has likely deemed as luxury to keep as a deep reserve.

• Claudio Pizarro, Werder Bremen: Pizarro is 40 and seems pretty locked into finishing his career with Die Werderaner. While we are sure he would love another run in the Champions League, it just seems like he’ll be content to try and help Werder Bremen clinch its own UCL berth for next season.

• Sandro Wagner, Tianjin Teda: The 31-year-old Wagner has already hinted that he would like to return to Bayern Munich in hopes of kick starting a coaching career. While he felt like he had more to offer on the pitch — and more money to make as well — before he left for China, a year abroad might have convinced the big man that role behind the Polish Hitman is not so bad.

• Mario Gomez, VfB Stuttgart: At 34, Gomez is undeniably nearing the end of the road for his career and might be itching to play some important football rather than waste away in the 2.Bundesliga.

• Max Kruse, Fenerbahce: Kruse (31) just moved to Fenerbahce this summer and unless he’s completely unhappy, it would seem that a change to Bayern this winter would be premature.

Do you think any of those players would be a fit? If so, tell us in the poll below: