Bayern Munich’s loan strategy is paving the way for a big summer transfer window

Nicolas Kühn and Álvaro Odriozola are the latest of several players that Bayern Munich has acquired on loans. They join Philippe Coutinho and Ivan Perisic, who were signed somewhat abruptly after Bayern’s primary transfer target Leroy Sané tore his ACL days before he would have finalized his transfer joining the club. As set out by AZ, Bayern’s recent moves indicate a broader transfer: the club is saving money now for what will probably be the biggest transfer window in its history this summer.

They hypothetical coal is to free up as much money as possible so that Bayern can sign both Sané from Manchester City and Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen, for whom Bayern is facing stiff competition from both Liverpool and Barcelona.

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Since both Coutinho and Perisic are at the club on short-term loans, a large amount of last summer’s transfer budget, which was intended for Sané, will be available yet again this summer. That money will be needed this summer window.

When Bayern goes back to the negotiating table with Manchester City, AZ speculates that he will likely cost around €200 million, including both his transfer fee and salary, although Bayern will attempt to bring the transfer fee down based on Sané performances for City once he makes his comeback. As if €200 million were not enough, it is assumed that it will cost Bayern about €130 million to acquire Havertz’s services from Leverkusen.

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In light of this transfer plan, Coutinho’s future with Bayern really comes into question. Bayern obviously will not exercise its purchase option to buy him from Barcelona at the end of his loan spell for €120 million. That is only the upper limit, however, of a potential fee Bayern could negotiate with Barcelona if the club decided it wanted to keep Coutinho. If Bayern’s budget is intended for both Sané and Havertz this summer, Coutinho would probably be the odd man out.

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Essentially, Bayern has filled gaps in its roster with loan players to avoid tying itself down before spending big on its chief targets. Of course, as is the case with any transfer window, especially one involving “FC Hollywood,” there are no guarantees. Sané’s knee injury dramatically complicated things, but it increasingly seems that Bayern is ready to do whatever it takes to bring both him and Havertz to Munich.