Bayern Munich need to have a big summer.
With the World Cup taking place, little attention will be on transfers at the moment, but I’ll start this piece off with a reminder that the transfer window is just about open. Once the tournament comes to a close, many eyes will soon turn to transfers.
Neymar’s potential move to Real Madrid has been talked about as has Antoine Griezmann’s decision to stay at Atletico Madrid, but of Europe’s elite Bayern Munich do not crop up as often.
Bayern have never been big spenders in the market. Two of their biggest signings in recent years have been free agents (Robert Lewandowski and Mats Hummels). Besides those two, the only real big name to join the club has been Arturo Vidal a few years ago.
However, it should be clear by now that their approach to the transfer window has not been successful as far as offering a serious bid for European titles is concerned.
Keeping up with European competition
Since they won the treble in 2013, they have not reached the final, whereas Barcelona, Juventus, Atletico Madrid, and Real Madrid, who just so happened to have won the last three Champions Leagues, have.
Atletico is the oddball out in this list because they haven’t really spent all that much, yet still managed to make two appearances in the final.
However, they also exited last year’s competition at the group stages and while they did win the Europa League, it was their only trophy since 2014.
On the other hand, Barcelona, Juventus, and Real Madrid have made significant changes to their squad.
It’s a formula that has proven to be successful for the three and one that Bayern must adopt if they are to reestablish themselves as serious contenders for a European title.
Barcelona were thoroughly outplayed by none other than Bayern themselves in 2013 and ended up losing their semifinal tie with the Bavarians by seven goals.
They then purchased Neymar and Luis Suarez to partner Messi upfront. Two seasons later, they won their second treble in a decade, defeating Bayern en route to the trophy.
Real Madrid haven’t made many changes to their team in recent years, but it worth noting that they were in a similar position to Bayern before their Champions League triumph in 2014.
However in the transfer windows leading up to La Decima, they purchased Luka Modric and broke the record for a transfer fee at that time to bring Gareth Bale in.
Both were instrumental to Real Madrid’s acquisition of the trophy. Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez also ended up the club after and Real Madrid have added three successive European Cups to their name since.
They haven’t spent much in recent years, but they reached their current level with heavy activity in the transfer market.
Juventus have also been active in the transfer market, even if they haven’t spent much at all. After crashing out to Bayern Munich in 2013, the club brought in Carlos Tevez, Fernando Llorente and Alvaro Morata to boost their front line. Guess where they ended up.
Bayern on the other hand, have not made many major additions to their squad other than James Rodriguez.
Mats Hummels and Robert Lewandowski are both certainly big signings, but far from necessary as Bayern already had quality options in both positions prior to their arrivals.
Since 2013, Bayern have exited the Champions League at the hands of Barcelona, Atletico and Real Madrid three times, and nearly to Juventus. If they wish to defeat the three, they need improvements to their squad, rather than simply big name signings.
Here is where they can improve
Their squad boasts an abundance of talent in many areas, but they are not as strong out wide as they once were. Ribery and Robben who were both essential to Bayern’s Champions League run in 2013 no longer have the pace to beat defenders such as Ramos or Chiellini. Perhaps James Rodriguez can fill this void this year.
Meanwhile, David Alaba’s absence for much of Bayern’s semi-final tie with Real Madrid was costly, as Bayern lacked a reliable source out wide to support their attack. They must strengthen their fullbacks as well.
Thiago and Alturo Vidal are both excellent center midfielders, but Bayern also lack reliable backups in these positions. Tolisso and Javi Martinez simply do not cut it in a semi-final against Real Madrid.
As a matter of fact, the former bears guilt for a poor back-pass from which Benzema scored a massive goal in the semi-final this past season while two seasons ago, Javi Martinez received two yellow cards in a minute in their quarter-final with Madrid.
Barcelona, Real Madrid, and Juventus have all managed to overcome weaknesses in their squad by spending. All three sides have made signings worth over 80 million Euros in the past four years and all three have ended up in Champions League finals.
While the signings alone are not responsible, they indicate a desire to strengthen their squad significantly.
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If Bayern wish to achieve a similar level of success on the field, they must first emulate what their European rivals do off of it.