Crackpot predictions for 2022: Robert Lewandowski to Real Madrid; Julian Nagelsmann uses a back-three; Bayern Munich signs Erling Haaland; plus MORE!

Do you want to take a peek into the future at Bayern Munich?

Let’s take a ride on the BFW Time Machine and fast forward to the summer of 2022 for some wild (but maybe plausible predictions).

What’s different? What’s the same? Here is where we think things could be in August of 2022:

Robert Lewandowski will move to Real Madrid

The long-rumored mutual infatuation will become a reality and the Polish Hitman will tell Bayern Munich that he wants one more challenge in his career — and that is to help Real Madrid return to its glory days.

This move will not happen because Bayern Munich wants it to happen, but Lewandowski — who has seemingly been yearning for something new since 2018 — will finally look to cross another item off of his bucket list by moving to the Bernabéu. It will be one last run at pushing a club to Champions League glory for the Polish Hitman.

Julian Nagelsmann will stop the charade and move to a back three — embracing a 3-4-2-1

When walking into a new club with an established history and veteran locker room, you can’t just waltz in and make sweeping changes.

You have to wait a year — at least.

With Lewandowski gone, Kingsley Coman’s contract demands still far too excessive, and another iffy season from Leroy Sane, Nagelsmann now has a chance to put his stamp on the squad.

The respective sales of Lewandowski, Pavard, Coman, and Sane will generate enough revenue to account for Haaland’s release clause (and then some), the acquisition of Sergino Dest, and some buffer room for the increased salary budget.

Erling Haaland will help Bayern Munich break the chain

Sure, his salary demands will be extremely high, but there is a premium on legitimate, prodigious talents — and Bayern Munich is going to come to the realization that they must evolve with the times.

In a move that many — and we mean many — people thought could never happen because of his wages, Haaland will shock the footballing world by declaring he will move to Bavaria.

Who else will move on?

Aside of Lewandowski, Coman, Pavard, and Sane, Bayern Munich will have sold Chris Richards to Hoffenheim back in the summer of 2021 and will also also sell Lars Lukas Mai to Werder Bremen. If Bayern Munich can find away to unload, they will take that opportunity.

So…what does it all look like?

Haaland leads the front line options with Thomas Müller shifting among a few positions. Serge Gnabry, however, is the odd man out of the starting mix and will be getting anxious.

Müller and Marcel Sabitzer — a summer 2021 signing — team with Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka to form the best midfield unit in the world. The footballing intelligence of Müller and Sabitzer will be unrivaled, as the duo creates an insane amount of opportunities for Haaland. Meanwhile, Kimmich and Goretzka will boss the midfield and create a stable foundation that acts as a keystone for the squad’s offense and defense.

After a tremendous comeback season in 2021/2022, Niklas Sule will join Lucas Hernandez, and Dayot Upamecano to form the starting backline. Tanguy Nianzou is also in the mix, but Benjamin Pavard will have moved on, tiring of being pushed aside.

Photo by Christof Koepsel/Getty Images for DFB

Alphonso Davies will man the left wing-back position, while Dest is the right wing-back — an acquisition made available in FC Barcelona’s long-term quest to shed salaries and generate revenue in hopes of acquiring better players for more important positions.

The primary depth pieces include Nianzou, Gnabry, Jamal Musiala, Torben Rhein, Armindo Sieb, Eric Choupo-Moting, Christopher Scott (as a burgeoning right-back), Sven Ulreich (Alexander Nubel will earn another season with AS Monaco). Unhappy, Gnabry is exploring his options, while Sarr will either be sold (or just be completely buried on the depth chart). If Fiete Arp can rediscover his form at Holstein Kiel, he cold be in line to be another option as a depth piece among the top three positions, but that seems like a long shot at this point.

If Rhein is not on the senior team roster next summer, he will move on. In addition, Arijon Ibrahimovic will be floating between the first-team and Bayern Munich II, but will be quickly proving that he is a legitimate prospect on a fast track to success. He looks to be a legitimate option for starting minutes in the 2023/2024 season.

All the while, though, Bayern Munich will be plotting in the background for another run at RB Leipzig phenom Dominik Szoboszlai. Should Ibrahimovic grow impatient and force a sale, the Bavarians will have a nice contingency plan waiting in the wings at Leipzig.

Is that just the inner-workings from the mind of a madman....or could it happen? What’s possible and what is bonkers? You can tell us in the comments below...