Bayern Munich’s $40 Million Transfer Target Scouted

Ongoing and complex contract negotiations between Bayern Munich and Serge Gnabry have increased speculations that the Rekordmeister will sign a new winger this summer. RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku is one target; another is Ajax Amsterdam’s Brazilian Antony.

Reports on Monday, suggested that Bayern Munich has an eye on Nkunku. But a transfer fee beyond $70 million, plus Leipzig’s unwillingness to sell the player, would make a transfer extremely difficult, even if Bayern could sell Gnabry for a significant transfer fee.

Then there is the fact that Leipzig is doubtful to allow the French winger to join their Bundesliga rivals. At the moment, a move is unrealistic, and rumors could even be considered a tactical mechanism by the Nkunku camp to gain a favorable position in contract negotiations with Leipzig.

Bayern, in the meantime, wants to renew the deal with Gnabry. Those negotiations have been difficult; Gnabry has followed that other players like Kingsley Coman have received a significant salary increase, and the German national team forward wants a considerable pay increase.

With all that in mind, Antony could be an exciting alternative to Gnabry. The 22-year-old Brazilian has a Transfermarkt market value of $38.5 million, around the price that Ajax will ask for the Brazilian for a potential summer transfer.

The Rekordmeister sees Antony as an interesting transfer target. Although Bayern Munich remains one of the most profitable clubs in world football, COVID-19 has wreaked havoc on the club’s finances. As a result, the club is now considering a change of transfer strategy with the club buying players with an eye to sell them in the future.

Although that strategy has not been formalized, the interest in Antony suggests that the club could indeed lean in that direction. Antony is a current Brazilian national team player and will play a significant role for his country at the upcoming World Cup in Qatar.

“He could be a Gnabry like player with less physical strength but more flair,” host of the Unsackable Podcast and Brazilian football expert Filippo Silva said. “Obviously, Bayern is a big jump, and I am unsure if he can adjust.”

Silva describes Antony as an inverted right winger with plenty of flair and excellent dribbling ability. “When he played for São Paulo, I saw him as a peladeiro style player, which in Brazil means that you are a tricky player without a proper end-product, a little bit like Denilson from the 1990s and early 2000s. ”

Antony, however, has made a big step in his development at Ajax. Signed for $17.33 million from São Paulo in the summer of 2020, Antony has become more productive. The winger has scored 22 goals and 20 assists in 79 games for Ajax and has started to challenge Raphinha for the starting role in Brazil’s national team.

“Antony has become very direct when in possession at Ajax,” Silva said. “He is very effective drawing fouls and scoring or setting up plays. His pace and agility are absurd,” Silva concluded.

Those are the very attributes Bayern would need to replace if negotiations with Gnabry fail. Furthermore, at a price of around $40 million, Antony might be a target even if the German national team winger signs a new contract. The Rekordmeister is not the only club interested, however, as Barcelona and several English clubs are scouting the player.

Manuel Veth is the host of the Bundesliga Gegenpressing Podcastand 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