Report: Julian Nagelsmann’s plan for Bayern Munich revealed

According to a report from Sport Bild (as captured in a series of tweets by Twitter account @iMiaSanMia), Julian Nagelsmann’s plans for Bayern Munich — and the players on the roster — have been revealed.

For many Bayern Munich fans, this will not go over well. Here are the details below:

Formation

3-4-3

Champagne XI

• GK: Neuer
• Defense: Lucas Hernandez, Dayot Upamecano, Niklas Süle or Benjamin Pavard
• Midfield: Alphonso Davies, Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Serge Gnabry
• Forwards: Thomas Müller, Robert Lewandowski, Leroy Sane

Photo by Sebastian Widmann - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

Roster fallout

• Bayern Munich and Nagelsmann want Süle to make a decision on if he is staying with the club as soon as possible, as his contract ends in 2022. The club wants to retain him, but needs to know he’s committed — which means he would have to sign a new deal this summer (likely within the next month). If Süle leaves Bayern Munich, the revenue generated would go to buying a right back/ right wing-back. Chelsea has been rumored to be interested in Süle. If he stays, Süle would be part of a four-man rotation for the back-three with Hernandez, Upamecano, and Pavard. Letting Süle play the last year of his deal without a contract or a sale is not an option for the Bavarians.
• Speaking of Pavard, he would slide in centrally to play center-back as Nagelsmann does not see him playing as a wing-back.
• Bayern Munich would be open to selling Corentin Tolisso if he wants to go as well. Juventus is reportedly interested in the oft-injured Frenchman. The club would want a box-to-box replacement if Tolisso leaves. Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Florian Neuhaus is considered as ideal, but he’s too expensive at this stage with a rumored price tag of €42 million.
• While Nagelsmann is planning as if he will have Kingsley Coman, the Frenchman’s salary demands have reportedly left many at the club irate. Bayern Munich would — allegedly — be open to selling Coman for €80 million.
• Given the formation, Gnabry could see his role drop backward, which would likely not be popular with the player.

BFW Commentary

While every “report” can be given a fair amount of skepticism, this news actually hit on several key points surrounding rumors we had already heard about the roster.

One worrisome aspect of Nagelsmann’s plan — aside of using a back-three for a team that seems ideally suited for a 4-2-3-1 — is that it would seem to potentially cull the effectiveness of Sane, Gnabry, and Coman. All three players have excelled playing in wide positions.

For now — and if true — Gnabry would be dropping back to a right wing-back role, which likely will not go over well, while Sane would be a forward in a front-three and Coman would be on the bench. Gnabry is the most capable of playing in a front three alignment with a more narrow role, but even he has not looked great playing in that spot for Germany.

Frankly, Sane has struggled in the role and been more of a detriment than a help to Germany, while Coman’s skillset makes him more of a true winger than playing somewhat more narrow.

While retaining Süle seems like a no-brainer for most, the big man is going to have to work out a new deal quickly or it seems as if Nagelsmann will move on with his planning. Just two years ago it would have been hard to imagine Bayern Munich and Süle parting ways...now, it is a legitimate possibility.

Whatever happens with Nagelsmann’s plans, he will certainly need more depth than he has right now. Hopefully the young and innovative coach an make all of this work, but should he start off with a back-three — and it looks awkward —Nagelsmann is going to have a tough time convincing critics he is the right man for the job in Bavaria.