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Per a report from Sport Bild, Bayern Munich could be eyeing up two Bundesliga defenders to help fill the void that will be left when David Alaba departs during the summer transfer window.
One of the rumored targets is former Bayern Munich player Marco Friedl, who now plies his trade for Werder Bremen:
According to SPORT BILD information, FC Bayern Stuttgart’s Borna Sosa (23) and Bremen’s Marco Friedl (22) are on the shopping list. The two professionals are the next candidates as left-backs alongside Omar Richards (22) from Reading FC and Luca Netz (17) from Hertha BSC.
Interestingly, Friedl was considered by some to be Bayern Munich’s “left-back of the future” during his tenure on Säbener Straße before moving on to Werder Bremen in 2018. Now, Friedl is known as much for his play at center-back as he is for his work at left-back. In all, Friedl has made 19 of his 20 appearances for Werder Bremen this season as a center-back, albeit often as part of a “back three” alignment.
Still, the Austrian’s versatility would likely be welcome in Bavaria. Friedl — somehow — is still just 22-years-old even though it feels like he has been around forever.
As for Sosa, the 23-year-old Croatian would also bring flexibility to the roster. In his 17 appearances this season for Stuttgart, 14 have come as a midfielder, with three as a left-back.
Sosa is the top cross provider at VfB. VfB sporting director Sven Mislintat (48) should only be ready to negotiate if the transfer fee is 20 million euros. Friedel, on the other hand, as a former home-grown man from Bavaria, is said to have a buyback clause for Munich in the amount of 10 million euros.
Since Salihamidzic has been running the transfer business at FC Bayern, the people of Munich have been working with so-called “shadow teams”: A list of players who are of interest with a section created for each position. Bayern currently have two left-backs, Lucas Hernández (24) and Alphonso Davies (20). Salihamidzic and squad planner Marco Neppe (34) are considering to fill the departure of David Alaba (28) internally with Hernández in central defense, instead of a new central defender. Bayern are therefore looking for a left-back, back-up for Davies.
Regardless, Friedl and Sosa would at least give Bayern Munich some options to work with at multiple positions should Alaba leave Bavaria this summer.