Bayern Munich Have Just 48 Hours Left To Make Key Transfer Decisions

There are just over 48 hours left before the transfer window closes on Sep. 1. But despite time running out, Bayern Munich still plans some significant moves before the window shuts on Friday. The first move could happen as early as Wednesday when Benjamin Pavard will be announced as a new Inter Milan player.

That transfer will earn Bayern an initial €30 million ($33 million) plus an additional €2 million ($2.2 million) in performance-based add-ons. With Pavard gone, Bayern will immediately go out and sign a new defender. The likeliest scenario now is that the Bundesliga giants will sign Trevoh Chalobah from Chelsea.

Chalobah has recently struggled for playing time at Chelsea under new manager Mauricio Pochettino and wants to leave the club. Furthermore, the 24-year-old center-back, who at a pinch could also play right-back, saw his first Premier
PINC
League minutes at Chelsea at current Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel.

Reports out of Germany have indicated that Tuchel has talked to Chalobah and that the defender wants to move to Munich. But discussions between the clubs are still difficult, with Chelsea wanting to sell the player and Bayern preferring a loan move initially.

“Luckily, we still have a few days left before Sep.1,” Bayern Munich CEO Jan-Christian Dreesen said when asked about Bayern signing new players during the presentation of new goalkeeper Daniel Peretz. “So, I would ask for a bit more patience. We’re in constant communication.”

Indeed, Bayern Munich is contemplating other options should Chalobah not work out until the window shuts on Friday. Two potential targets have been mentioned. One is Milan’s Pierre Kalulu. But the Frenchman is likely too expensive, and Milan’s reluctance would make it too difficult to get the deal across the line until Friday.

Sky Germany reporter Florian Plettenberg has reported that another option is Tottenham defender Eric Dier. According to Plettenberg, Dier has been offered to Bayern by the player’s representatives. Dier would be an intriguing option because the Englishman, who also has Portuguese citizenship, can also be employed as a defensive midfielder.

Dier would be intriguing because Bayern Munich is also still on the lookout for a traditional no. 6. But whether Bayern’s bosses have any appetite to negotiate with Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy after the Harry Kane transfer saga is questionable. Furthermore, would Tuchel be happy with a compromise-player at what he considers a vital role to fill before the window closes?

“It’s about both,” Tuchel said after the Augsburg game when asked whether it was about quantity or quality when it comes to filling the no.6 role with another player. “It doesn’t make sense to have 25 players at the same level, but it also doesn’t make sense to have 25 players to play in one position. We’re searching; it’s about having the right personality that can benefit the squad. It’s very complex.”

Those complexities are not easy to solve, especially as Bayern Munich might have to sell to add. That’s where rumors about Ryan Gravenberch potentially being traded in for Man United defensive midfielder Scott McTominay have their origin. Certainly, Tuchel rates McTominay but player trades are very rare in football.

All of those names and rumors indicate one thing at Bayern. There is plenty of noise, and the club will continue to be linked with moves to all sorts of players. But whether Bayern will sign Chalobah or another player, plus an additional no.6, remains to be seen.

There are only two certainties now. Pavard is set to leave for Inter Milan, and the Bundesliga transfer window will be closed Friday at 18:00 German time, bringing an end to the constant rumor mill.

Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcast and the Area Manager USA at Transfermarkt. He has also been published in the Guardian, Newsweek, Howler, Pro Soccer USA, and several other outlets. Follow him on Twitter: @ManuelVeth and on Threads: @manuveth