Bayern Munich is clearly ticking all the right boxes as far as transfers are concerned. The German champions seem to be going about its business smoothly and calmly without much fanfare.
Six new faces have touched down the Allianz Arena as Carlo Ancelotti continues to rebuild a strong squad proficient of competing on every front next season. We rank these new arrivals based on their potential impact.
1 - Serge Gnabry
Just one season in the Bundesliga was enough for Serge Gnabry to prove his quality to the world, hitting 11 goals from just 21 shots on target. Certainly worth more than the entire six years he spent with Arsenal, where he featured only 11 times.
That sole campaign with Werder Bremen seemingly alluded Bayern to cough out around £6million for the attacking midfielder. Gnabry will spend the upcoming season at Hoffenheim but is expected to play a key role as soon as he returns, considering Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben will be 35 and 34 years old respectively then.
2 - Sebastian Rudy
Bayern’s signing of Sebastian Rudy fits the habitual modus operandi of pilfering the nests of their Bundesliga rivals for their best talents. This time around it wasn’t Borussia Dortmund as usual but Hoffenheim who finished fourth last season. At just 27 Rudy has proven to be a consistent top-flight performer, amassing over 200 Bundesliga appearances.
His versatility means he can slot seamlessly into right-back and also be a safe pair of feet to step into the position in front of the back. These obviously are two problematic positions for Bayern after veterans, Philip Lahm and Xabi Alonso retired at the end of last season.
3 - Niklas Sule
Rudy wasn’t the only player poached by the Bavarians from Julian Nagelsmann’s team, young defender, Niklas Sule, as well for around £22million. Quick, strong and comfortable with the ball at his feet, Sule has all the attributes to be a world-class centre-back.
His physical size is a handy attribute at both ends of the pitch given the rough and tumble of the Bundesliga, while his ball- playing abilities, honed during his youth academy days as a forward make him the ideal ersatz Jerome Boateng or Matt Hummels.
4 - Kingsley Coman
Kingsley Coman is no stranger to Bayern and the Bundesliga having been on loan at the Allianz Arena since 2015. Now signed permanently by the club for around £21m from Juventus, the 21-year-old is being strongly tipped to continue his remarkable rise in Deutschland.
All through his first two years with the Bavarians, Coman shone brightly, displaying incredible dribbling skills, vision, pace and acceleration. Despite his youth, the Frenchman played over 50 games, more than twice the figure garnered in four seasons at Juventus and Paris Saint-Germain. He will be expected to feature more prominently this season owing to the departure of Douglas Costa to Italy.
5 - Corentin Tolisso
Bayern’s resolve to fork out around £35m, plus up to £4m in potential bonuses for Corentin Tolisso shows just how much the reigning German champions rate the youngster. The fee wasn’t only the highest ever received by Lyon but also a new record in the Bundesliga.
A talented box-to-box midfielder comfortable anywhere on the pitch, Tolisso hands the Bavarians loads of options on the pitch. Yet it is his ability in front of goal that could be the X-factor when it comes to Ancelotti’s team selection next term. The 22-year-old plundered no fewer than 14 goals in all competitions last term.
6 - James Rodriguez
This man obviously needs no introduction. In one of the most surprising transfers of the summer, James Rodriguez swapped Real Madrid for Bayern on a two-year-long deal.
There’s no doubting to the Colombian’s abilities having already proven himself at FC Porto, Monaco and Madrid. James doesn’t just make the goals, he scores them too, an extra goody he brings with him to Germany.
