Bayern Munich will be heavily active in the transfer market this summer. With the exits of Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben taking place after a decade of service, Bayern are looking for wingers to bolster their flanks. Both Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry have had an excellent season on the wings, meaning whoever comes, will have to face a lot of competition on the flanks to get into the starting lineup.
Serge Gnabry has been an absolute revelation this season and his performances have exceeded expectations at Saebener Strasse in Munich with even the boardroom members being forced to admit that they did not expect Serge to perform this well. Canadian starlet Alphonso Davies joined the squad in January but the youngster needs more time before he can step up to the first team. Kingsley Coman is injury prone and this might force Bayern to make a couple of signings for the wings this summer.
Here are 5 wingers that Bayern are targeting to become a part of their squad next summer:
#5 Timo Werner
The RB Leipzig forward is a very versatile player as he can be anywhere in the front. Timo Werner's signing can be hugely beneficial for Bayern as he can also act as a backup to Polish hitman Robert Lewandowski as and when needed. Timo Werner has got a brutal pace which is a primary thing that Bayern are looking for in the wings this summer. The 23-year-old Is a strong dribbler and loves to combine with attackers.
He also leads counter attacks with ease. A player who's largely similar to Serge Gnabry, he's also got an eye for goal which will be definitely one of the major points to consider if Bayern are indeed signing him. He's out of contract next summer and the Leipzig manager-cum-sporting director has made it clear that the German international will be sold this summer if he does not extend his contract. Bayern are reportedly interested in the player along with Liverpool and the coming weeks will make things more clear about Werner's future.
#4 Federico Chiesa
An Italian star on the rise, Federico Chiesa is a very familiar name in Florence. The son of the famous Enrico Chiesa, Federico is known for his unique style of play. He is a versatile player who can play on either wing or even centrally if required. His pace and dribbling abilities are a nightmare for opposition defences. The 21-year-old has a huge work rate and marking him on the pitch is difficult as he drifts from the wings to take the position of an inside forward at times or even assumes a free role.
He can take on and rush past fullbacks and his decision-making on the pitch is usually unpredictable. With him at Bayern, Niko Kovac will have a floating line of attackers behind Robert Lewandowski which can create havoc for the opposition defences. Fiorentina have finished 16th this season in the league and it is unlikely that they will be able to hold off advances for Chiesa this time. Juventus and Inter Milan are reportedly interested in the player and Bayern Munich must act quickly if they want to get his signature this summer.
#3 Nicolas Pepe
The Ivory Coast international has been a revelation in Ligue 1 this season. He has been a thorn for all opposition defences with his pace and dribbling abilities. His 22 goals and 11 assists have led LOSC Lille to a second place finish in the league. The player has long been linked to Bayern Munich and the club has apparently scouted the player several times this season. In an interview with Canal+, Lille manager Christophe Galtier said: "Nicolas Pepe will leave. Life's like that, football's like that."
Manchester United and Arsenal are said to be tracking the winger and Lille are looking for a bidding war to make the most of the situation. Pepe will typically suit the direct, fast, counter-attacking football that Niko Kovac is trying to implement at Bayern. It is said that the player will cost close to €80 million but the final price will depend on the highest bid being placed for the player.
#2 Callum Hudson-Odoi
The English starlet is now a long term target for Bayern Munich. He was pursued by Hasan Salihamidzic in the January transfer window but Chelsea blocked the transfer. One of the brightest talents in the world right now, Hudson-Odoi resembles a modern day winger who can also play as a central playmaker. He has loads of tricks up on his feet and can go past opposition defenders with ease. Given his age, he has brilliant composure even in front of the goal and he has been on the scoresheets on a regular basis for the Chelsea youth sides.
The youngster has his contract expiring next summer and Chelsea will reportedly offer him a new contract. With a looming transfer ban, it is unclear whether Chelsea will sell him this summer if the ban stays and the player does not contract. He is just the perfect solution in the attack that Bayern need right now and it has also been told that the club will try to sign him as a free agent next summer in case he decides not to extend his contract and the club does not sanction his move this summer.
#1 Leroy Sane
The German international is one of the best wingers on the planet. Bayern Munich have confirmed their interest in the player. "Yes, we are negotiating with this player," President Uli Hoeness answered when asked if Bayern were pursuing Sane. The attacker has seen his minutes drop at Manchester City this season despite scoring 16 times and assisting 18 more which shows the talent he has under his belt.
Manchester City are trying to convince the player to sign a contract extension for quite some time now but the player has been rebuffing the advances from the club. With 2 years left in his contract, City might be forced to sell the winger to Bayern which will be a massive coup in the current transfer market. A wing-pair of Serge Gnabry and Leroy Sane will surely add much more dynamism in the Bayern Munich attack next season and with his scoring abilities, Bayern will be much sharper upfront if they manage to get his signature this summer.