Report: Bayern Munich’s “sell list” for the summer transfer window

According to a report from Sport Bild (as captured by Tz), Bayern Munich has assembled its list of players that it will try to sell this summer.

The group of seven players features a few names that might be surprising. Let’s take a look at who Sport Bild has listed to be sold in the coming months:

1. Corentin Tolisso — Contract ends 2022: The French midfielder might need a move more than Bayern Munich needs to move him. With limited midfield depth, the Bavarians seem to have concluded that they will attempt to sell him this summer rather than risk losing him for nothing in 2022. It is a smart play for Bayern Munich if they are unsure if Tolisso can stay healthy or if he can accept being stuck behind Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich on the depth chart. Tolisso’s injury-plagued status, however, might also make buyers a little hesitant to commit a fair fee in exchange for the midfielder.

BFW Analysis: Tolisso is a great talent, but the player needs a fresh start. Losing him won’t necessarily help Bayern Munich, but would be a good boost for the Frenchman in an effort to find a place where he can be a regular starter. Inter Milan and Juventus are among the clubs who have allegedly expressed interest in Tolisso.

2. Bouna Sarr — Contract ends 2024: Sarr was inexplicably given a four-year deal last summer and proceeded to have a pretty wretched season, where he found himself relegated to the bench. There is some line of thought that Sarr could actually play a role under new boss Julian Nagelsmann, but Sarr was not all that good when called upon this season.

BFW Analysis: If Bayern Munich can cut its losses and find a buyer, they should sell. Olympique Marseille was rumored to have interest in Sarr.

3. Michaël Cuisance — Contract ends 2024: After an unproductive loan stint at Olympique Marseille, most observers are expecting Cuisance to return to Bayern Munich. While the club could certainly use Cuisance as a depth piece behind Thomas Müller, Goretzka, and Kimmich, it seems as if the Bavarians are more interested in parting ways with the #StepOverKing.

BFW Analysis: Given Bayern Munich’s lack of depth and the likelihood that Tolisso will be an easier and more lucrative sale than Cuisance, the 21-year-old could actually benefit from a spell under Nagelsmann. It remains to be seen, however, if Bayern Munich has seen enough from Cuisance to know it does not want to see any more.

4. Joshua Zirkzee — Contract ends 2023: Certain to return from a dreadful, injury-riddled loan stint at Parma Calcio 1913, Zirkzee’s future at Bayern Munich is extremely cloudy. Like a few of the club’s other youth players, the Dutchman appears to have a hit a wall with his development at Bayern Munich and might benefit from a move.

BFW Analysis: Zirkzee’s meteoric start with Bayern Munich had many fans hopeful, but the youngster’s form has dipped severely during the 2020/2021 campaign. This is the classic case of figuring out whether or not a player just needs to move and start over or if he should try and chip away at building a future in Munich.

5. Fiete Arp — Contract ends 2024: The young striker has suffered through two injury-plagued seasons on Säbener Straße and has a prohibitive salary (rumored to be €5 million). The bizarre mutual decision between Arp and Hansi Flick to have the youngster play the entire season with Bayern Munich II certainly threw his season for loop, but between injuries, battling his confidence, and a lack of form, Arp had another lost season.

BFW Analysis: It would be great to see Arp on Bayern Munich’s first-team next season as a versatile bench option for Nagelsmann, but that does not appear likely at this stage. Hannover 96 was said to be interested in acquiring Arp. It remains to be seen if Arp, himself, might be open to starting over elsewhere. The player has already indicated he wants to fight to prove his mettle with Bayern Munich.

6. Adrian Fein — Contract ends 2023: Fein is another player who did not have a successful loan stint. PSV Eindhoven had the same issues integrating Fein that Hansi Flick had, which does not bode well for the young midfielder. With Marc Roca, Torben Rhein, and some of the names on this list potentially still with Bayern Munich next season, it appears that Fein will not have a place and just needs to move on.

BFW Analysis: Fein had a promising future as a defensive midfielder at one point, but things have went south for the 22-year-old. A move away from Bayern Munich could be just what the doctor ordered to get Fein’s career headed back in the right direction.

7. Niklas Süle — Contract ends 2022: It is do or die time for Süle. He will either be signed to a contract extension by the end of August or he will be sold. Assuredly, Bayern Munich will want to address this situation as soon as possible because Süle because is by far the club’s most valuable asset that could be on the market this summer. The hiring of Nagelsmann could also give Süle a fresh start with Bayern Munich as well. In addition, it is always appealing for the Bavarians to have Germany’s best center-back on their roster for the upcoming World Cup cycle.

BFW Analysis: Süle should be considered a foundational piece for Bayern Munich, but even with the upcoming departures of David Alaba and Jerome Boateng, there is a boatload of talent available on the back-line. Ultimately, Süle may be weighing where he will get more playing time — with Bayern Munich or elsewhere. With the size, speed, and talent that clubs covet, it would be nice to see Süle be a part of Bayern Munich’s core group for the next generation at Säbener Straße.

Summary

As Tz points out, a sale of Süle could bring Bayern Munich the type of income needed to acquire a player like Florian Neuhaus or Achraf Hakimi. It should also be noted, however, that the clubs for both of those players strongly insist that neither will be leaving this summer.

Regardless, the club will likely be looking to bring in a few players to support the core group, but how much Bayern Munich has to spend could be driven by who it is able to sell.