5 Champions League contenders and their centre-backs issues

#2 Bayern Munich

Boateng looks to be on his way out of Bayern Munich

It was a strange sort of season last time around for the Bavarians. Too many of its senior German players were affected by the disaster that was Die Mannschaft's 2018 World Cup campaign.

This was especially true for the centre-backs; Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng. Stalwarts for club and country since 2014, both players seemingly declined at the same time; a mess for both teams. This led to one or the other being dropped for Niklas Süle.

All of a sudden, one of the world’s best centre-back pairings became a parody and the butt of jokes. In the Bundesliga, teams were getting a lot of joy going up against them. Their UCL exit to Liverpool was done with a whimper and nothing else as they couldn’t cope with the speed and power of their English opponents.

It became obvious that something had to give. Hummels has rejoined old side, Borussia Dortmund in a £34 million deal (good move by Bayern) while Boateng looks likely to be sold if a willing buyer can be found.

The club has invested huge money in France’s World Cup-winning fullbacks; £31.4 million for Benjamin Pavard (VfB Stuttgart) and €80 million for Lucas Hernandez (Atletico Madrid). Both players can play the centre-back role capably. It is expected that they will rotate with Süle as other options; David Alaba, Joshua Kimmich and Alphonso Davies currently exist in the fullback roles.

The club is not expected to move for any centre-back again though their name is also being called in the de Ligt merry-go-round.