Hasan Salihamidzic working to fulfill Hoeness’ vision of FC Bayern Deutschland

Uli Hoeness has always maintained a vision that FC Bayern Munich should be FC Bayern Deutschland in the sense that all of the top German talents on the national team should play for Bayern. That vision took a hit when Jogi Löw dropped the trio of Mats Hummels, Jerome Boateng and Thomas Müller from the team, but sporting director Hasan Salihamidizc is doing everything he can to keep the vision alive, especially with planning for future transfers (Bild+).

Specifically, both Leroy Sane from Manchester City and Kai Havertz from Bayer Leverkusen are at the top of Bayern’s transfer list as top German talents. Sané was close to joining Bayern in the last summer transfer window, but his knee injury delayed any move. As for Havertz, Leverkusen reportedly wants around €130 million for his release, which would likely require Bayern to sell players to fund his potential transfer.

Photo by Simon Hofmann/Getty Images

RB Leipzig defender Lukas Klostermann has also been linked with Bayern in recent weeks, especially after it emerged that Bayern is looking for a right-back to free Joshua Kimmich to play in the midfield. Bayern has also just confirmed the signing of German goalkeeper Alexander Nübel to be groomed as Manuel Neuer’s eventual successor.

Ahead of the team’s departure to Qatar, Salihamidizc was tight-lipped when asked about potential right-back signings in the winter transfer window. Hansi Flick and the rest of Bayern’s coaching staff clearly want Kimmich to continue playing in midfield, so signing a right-back would be the logical move. Salihamidzic, though, said they intend to wait and see how things go at the camp in Qatar (SportBild):

We always leave all our options open. We’ll see how the training camp goes, what we and the coach need. We’ll react accordingly — or not.

Salihamidzic also commented on Robert Lewandowski, who stayed behind in Munich with Niklas Süle, Kingsley Coman, and Javi Martinez to train with rehab coaches and physiotherapists. Brazzo insisted that it is not a setback that Lewandowski ultimately remained. He said,

All that is not a problem at all. That has been coordinated quite precisely. Lewy has his plan, in coordination with the fitness coaches and the medical division.