FC Bayern cannot miss Marcel Sabitzer

Marcel Sabitzer’s transfer to FC Bayern is on the brink. Munich shouldn’t miss the all-purpose weapon for midfield. A comment.

Eleven days until the transfer window closes. Eleven days in which a lot, but also little or nothing, can happen at FC Bayern. Coach Julian Nagelsmann and the management team around Hasan Salihamidzic leave a window open, but they also know: In order to make new signings, space must be created in the squad and on the payroll. And that is exactly the problem at the moment: There are no offers for sales candidates like Corentin Tolisso or Bouna Sarr.

Therefore, one or the other intended purchase is also on the brink. First and foremost that of Marcel Sabitzer, the captain of league competitor RB Leipzig, who would like to work with Nagelsmann again. The clubs have not yet negotiated specifically. Above all, Bayern want to wait and see what happens to Tolisso.

Regardless of the situation of the Frenchman, whose contract expires in the coming summer anyway, Salihamidzic and Co. should not miss this opportunity and pay the transfer of up to 20 million euros for Sabitzer. A sum that would certainly not plunge the club into bankruptcy with all the corona-related cost-saving measures – and which the Austrian national player would undoubtedly be worth.

Because: Sabitzer could relieve Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka in the central midfield and, due to his move to the opposing goal, also help out further forward, for example on the wing positions. With a transfer, those responsible would kill two birds with one stone, so to speak. His numbers at Leipzig speak for themselves.

In addition, Sabitzer, at 27 years of age, is in the prime footballer’s age and has international experience and leadership skills to survive with the record champions. A complete package that belongs in the “Sports Enrichment” category – and that would help Nagelsmann immediately.

It would be risky to only rely on the injury-prone Tolisso and the hitherto less convincing Marc Roca as midfield backups, especially since with the migrated Javi Martinez (Qatar SC) and David Alaba (Real Madrid) two further options are lost and Goretzka every now and then also prone to injury. That was also one of the main reasons for the end of the Champions League quarter-finals last season against Paris Saint-Germain: Goretzka was injured in the second leg, long-running Kimmich looked outplayed in both games.

The realization: Since Thiago’s departure to Liverpool FC, an adequate alternative that performs reliably at the highest level has been needed for the central midfield. Sabitzer would be an important piece of the puzzle through which the Bayern squad would not have to hide from anyone else internationally.