Report: Bayern Munich’s Oliver Batista Meier headed to Eredivisie’s SC Heerenveen

For anyone thinking that Oliver Batista Meier would slide into Bayern Munich’s fourth winger role that was recently vacated by Ivan Perisic, those hopes appear to be dashed.

Per a report from Voetbal International (as captured by kicker), the 19-year-old Kaiserslautern native’s long-rumored loan assignment will take the youngster to the Netherlands. Hoffenheim was also mentioned as a potential destination in kicker’s report, but it does not appear that Batista Meier will be under the wing of newly appointed head man Sebastian Hoeneß as SC Heerenveen looks to be Batista Meier’s landing spot.

Sport1 reporter Florian Plettenberg chimed in with further details on the agreement, which looks to be a one-year loan with no option to buy:

Batista Meier’s potential move will still leave Hansi Flick in need of a wing option to play behind Serge Gnabry, Kinglsey Coman, and Leroy Sané. The unfortunate ending to Bayern Munich’s negotiations with Inter Milan sealed Perisic’s return to Italy and left many with the impression that Batista Meier would be the chosen deep reserve on the flanks. That role will surely now go to someone else. Who will that be? Let’s take a look at some internal options:

• Leon Dajaku: Dajaku is an exciting and skilled prospect that Bayern Munich seems to like. While Dajaku is also rumored to be headed out on a loan assignment, the Bavarians like his talent and pace and have even toyed with the idea of making him a right-back in the mold of Alphonso Davies.

• Fiete Arp: The #ArpTrain might have derailed last season with a string of injuries, but the 20-year-old talent could benefit from this roster upheaval. While not a conventional wing, disposed manager Niko Kovac experimented with the former Hamburger SV man out-wide last summer, which yielded some tantalizing results. While most think Arp is headed for a full season with Bayern Munich II, his talent and hefty salary could push him up to a first-team spot as a reserve at both striker and wing.

• Nicolas Kühn: The 18-year-old Germany youth international is another option from the Bayern Munich II ranks, but it would appear to be a long-shot. Kühn was purchased from Ajax after a short-term loan assignment with Bayern Munich II last season. Bayern campus manager Jochen Sauer has described Kühn as a “technically strong, agile player who fits in well with us.”
• Thomas Müller: Well, the Raumdeuter has been in this spot before and you could do a lot worse, but Müller’s impact is always best when playing centrally. Still, there is more depth behind Müller than Bayern Munich probably needs. Leon Goretzka, Corentin Tolisso, and Michaël Cuisance are just a few of the familiar names that could back-fill Müller’s role behind Robert Lewandowski, while youngster Jamal Musiala could also help out as a Müller fill-in.

Externally, Bayern Munich will have to hit the pavement to see who is available and may even have to hit the bargain bin based on the club’s focus on fiscal responsibility during the COVID-19 pandemic.