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Earlier this week, reports had surfaced suggesting Bayern Munich was ready to loan out Alexander Nübel this summer, with Niko Kovac’s AS Monaco being one of the most suitable destinations. Werder Bremen and Hertha Berlin were also clubs that he was linked with as he’s hardly played this season behind Manuel Neuer.
Per a new report from kicker, though, Oliver Kahn spoke to television punditry prior to Bayern’s 4-2 win over Borussia Dortmund kicked off and confirmed that Nübel would be staying at Bayern. “Alexander Nübel remains our number 2. We are totally convinced of this goalkeeper,” he said.
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His current contract at FC Bayern runs through 2025, but suggestions of a loan spell were fueled by his agent, Stefan Backs, who had referenced the fact that his contract stipulates he should play at least 10 matches this season. Of course, at this point, he’s only featured twice for Bayern and his chances of getting more appearances has decreased now that Bayern has already been knocked out of the DFB-Pokal and they’re already in the knockout stages of the Champions League. Unless Bayern pulls away with a massive points lead in the Bundesliga, the chances of Nübel playing at least 10 matches is pretty low.
Kahn might not have the final say on this matter, but the statement from him provides insight that Bayern doesn’t exactly have plans of letting him go. Union Berlin’s (on loan from Liverpool) Loris Karius had been linked along with a slew of goalkeepers after news had broke that Nübel’s agent was pondering a loan spell away from Bayern, aided by the fact that Christian Früchtl’s loan spell at FC Nürnberg hasn’t quite worked out and Ron-Thorben Hoffmann’s future at Bayern is uncertain.
With what Kahn said, if appears that Bayern is ready to convince Nübel not to go out on loan and continue to serve as Neuer’s backup. From Bayern’s perspective, it’s imperative that they keep hold of a viable backup option for Neuer.