Sebastian Rudy
Xabi Alonso’s retirement this summer caught a few off guard but as always, Munich had a replacement all sorted out. Sebastian Rudy was convinced to come over from Hoffenheim on a free transfer and you might not see a better move this past window.
The German international is a dependable midfielder, able to begin attacks from deep and help slow down the opposition in the middle of the park. A partnership with Thiago, Arturo Vidal or both would create a superb balance to the Bayern midfield that was somewhat lacking over the past year.
While the Spaniard was special, Alonso was clearly showing signs of wear and tear in recent seasons. Though Rudy isn’t quite of the level he was in his prime, both his pedigree and price make this another one of those clever moves for Bayern that flies under the radar.
Grade: 10/10