7 players who can replace Arjen Robben at Bayern Munich

Arjen Robben is considered an icon at Bayern Munich, and he has defined an era on the left wing at Bayern Munich. Robben joined the Bavarian giants from Real Madrid for €25 million in 2009.

It is safe to say that the €25 million invested in the former Dutch international has given much more in return than the money invested in him. He has helped 'FC Hollywood' win 6 Bundesliga titles, 4 German Cups and 1 Champions Leauge and was instrumental in their famous 2013-14 treble-winning campaign.

Now, at the of age 34, his career at the club is coming to an end as young and fresh talents are emerging who can challenge the speedy winger for a place in the starting eleven at the Arena Allianz.

The Bavarian giants operate very differently and efficiently in the transfer market and there is no doubt they must have started looking for replacements for the 34-year-old.

They mainly use three strategies for signing players and have had a very high rate of success.

When they feel the need to spend big on players, they do so, but not so much. They signed Javi Martinez for €40 million, Arturo Vidal for €37 million and Corentin Tolisso for €41.5 million.

They are also always in search of quality players who are available for free; they have signed players like Sebastian Rudy, Leon Goretzka and Robert Lewandoski for free.

Their most effective strategy has been buying from fellow Bundesliga clubs e.g. the signings of players like Mario Gomez, Manuel Neuer, Mario Gotze and Mats Hummels

They also make sure that players from their academy get a chance in the first team, this has seen graduates like David Alba and Thomas Muller become mainstays in the senior squad.

A player like Robben cannot be exactly replaced and the club can only get players whose playing style is similar to his.

Keeping this in mind, this is a look at 7 players who could replace him:

#7 Florian Thauvin (Olympique de Marseille)

Florian Thauvin has resurrected his career with Marseille.

Though he had a spell to forget at Newcastle, Thauvin has resurrected his career this season at the Stade Vélodrome with 16 goals and 10 assists this season.

He is a very good dribbler and he is blessed with plenty of pace and he can be very effective on counter attacks.

He is the third player in Europe after Lionel Messi and Neymar to have recorded double digits in goals and assists this season.

Like Robben, he is also a left- footer and likes to play on the right-hand side from where he can cut in and score goals.

If he comes to the Bundesliga, the Munich based club will not only get a dribbler but a goalscoring threat as well.

The winger is only 25 and if given the right direction he can excel and become a very vital player for any team. Given his characteristics and style of play, he can be a great replacement for Robben.

#6 Malcolm (Bordeaux)

Malcolm's style of play is very similar to Robben's

The Brazilian winger has been attracting plenty of interest from various teams across Europe this season.

Malcolm is very similar to the best left-footed wingers who play on the other flank as he likes to play on the right and cut in to shoot with his favoured left foot; this season he has scored some spectacular goals.

The 20-year-old has quick feet and likes keeping the ball close to his feet to help him go past defenders. He also has a powerful shot which is usually difficult for goalkeepers to stop and his style of play is very similar to that of Douglas Costa.

The former Corinthians winger stats are an indication of how impressive the youngster has been this season. With 3 dribbles per game, 2.9 key passes per game and he completes 1.4 crosses per game.

The winger has also shown plenty of maturity at Bordeaux and he has already learned the French language which has helped him in settling in Ligue 1. At the age of 20, Malcolm has plenty of time to harness his skills and become a world-class player.

Though Bayern is likely to face a lot of competition for the talented winger, Arsenal and Tottenham all have been mooted as possible destinations for him. It would represent a good buy for the Bavarian giants if they sign him.

#5 Gelson Martins (Sporting Clube de Portugal)

Bayern has been scouting the Sporting Clube youngster (left)

Martins is a 22-year-old Portuguese winger who really blossomed last season as he scored 7 and further assisted 13 in 44 appearances.

According to reports, the German club is extensively scouting him as the hierarchy view him as a natural heir to Robben.

They are confident that they tempt the winger to switch to the Bundesliga if Sporting is willing to negotiate a deal.

His playing style is very much like a classic winger as he is good in one on one situations capable of going past players and delivering a good ball inside the box.

Martins' main strengths are his pace, trickery, dribbling skills and passing. He also capable of playing on both the wings. The Portuguese winger also contributes defensively as well, his 1.8 tackles per game are a proof of that.

At the age of 22, he has plenty of time to improve and develop his game further up. The fact that the German club interested in the winger despite his £53.5 million release clause is indicative that he is seen as being a quality player.

#4 Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen)

The Bayern Leverkusen winger at the age of 21 has 10 caps for Germany.

The 21-year-old midfielder has given some eye-catching performances this season which has led to interest from top European clubs. He already has 10 caps for his country and he is capable of playing through the center or on the wing.

His contract has a clause which allows him to leave Leverkusen for just £11 million and Bayern would definitely be very tempted in signing the versatile winger.

He knows the league very well so he should easily be able to settle at the Arena Allianz.

The young German is 6'1 in height and strong enough to maintain possession. He also has plenty of speed and dribbling abilities to match his size. He is very good in one-on-one situations and his versatility is also of his assets.

Though he is 21, he has proved that he can perform at the highest level consistently in competitions like the Bundesliga and Champions Leauge.

He should be a good addition to the current Bundesliga champions squad and if he joins, he is very much likely to replace Robben.

#3 Leon Bailey (Bayer Leverkusen)

Leon Bailey has been terrorizing defenders with his deadly speed

At the age of 20, many have hailed him as the new Robben so it is no wonder that he is being linked to Chelsea and Liverpool.

The Jamaican joined Bayer Leverkusen in the winter of 2017 from Genk and he has been the breakout player of this season. He has already registered 11 goals and 5 assists to help Leverkusen in the hunt for a Champions League place.

He has impressed in the Bundesliga with his speed, which has led many to call him the 'Bundesliga Bolt'.

The youngster terrorizes his opponent's defenders on counter attacks with his deadly acceleration and raw pace.

He is capable of playing on both wings and has shown an ability to nick goals for his team. The winger averages 7 dribbles a game which is very similar to Robben.

Another significant aspect of Bailey's game is his ability to make key passes, on an average he makes 2.3 key passes per game.

If Bayern signs him, there is no doubt that he will prove to be a quality signing as he is only 20 and room for improvement.

#2 Thomas Lemar (AS Monaco)

The French international is one of the complete attackers of his age

Lemar had his breakthrough season with Monaco's 2016-17 title-winning side. Though some of his teammates left Monaco in the summer, he is still playing his for the Ligue 1 side.

He is capable of playing on both sides of the wing or behind the striker and his performances haven't gone unnoticed across Europe with clubs like Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, and Barcelona being linked with the talented youngster who joined Monaco from Caen for €5 million.

The Frenchmen has very good technical ability which allows him to very comfortable on both the wings or play the role of a traditional No. 10.

Many have hailed him as the complete attacker. He is very good at taking set pieces, is also blessed with immense pace, and shows a lot of composure and maturity on the ball in open play and tight spaces.

His passing skills are also one of his strengths and he is also very intelligent in a footballing sense, his off the ball runs enhance his game and he is very comfortable with dribbling from both his feet.

Though it is likely that he will be an expensive buy for Bayern, the quality that he has shown means he will most likely be a valuable long-term asset

#1 Christian Pulisic (Borussia Dortmund)

Pulisic (right) has been in impressive form for Borussia Dortmund.

Over the years one thing is very clear that Bayern Munich loves to buy from Dortmund. They have already signed Mario Gotze, Robert Lewandoski, and Mats Hummels from their arch-rivals

If reports are believed, the Bavarian giants are again considering a raid for Christian Pulsic.

The American burst on the scene at the age of 17 at the Signal Iduna Park and since then he hasn't looked back. He has improved his game season by season and at the age of 19, he is a regular starter for Dortmund.

Like many other players on this list, the youngster is capable of playing on both sides of the wing as well as behind the striker.

He is great at off-the-ball movements which makes him a viable option for his teammates to pass the ball to in tight spaces. The American is also very good is making decisions in the final third.

Time and time again, he has proved himself to be a special talent due to his ability to create something out of almost nothing. He is also an excellent dribbler and he does contribute defensively when needed.

There is no doubt that Pulisic is a future superstar and if Bayern sign they will not only weaken their biggest rivals in Germany, but it will also make them very strong in Europe as well.