Could Bayern Look To Sell Their Star Midfielder?

Could Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka be on the move this summer? A recent report by the Munich-based newspaper TZ suggested as much on Tuesday. According to the report in the Munich daily newspaper, Goretzka would be allowed to leave the club if the right offer was made for the 28-year-old central midfielder.

Goretzka rumors have now existed for some time. There have even been some reports linking Goretzka to Bayern’s main rivals Borussia Dortmund. Any story linking Goretzka to Dortmund at this point might be a bit premature. But what is true is that the 28-year-old does no longer seem to the number one choice next to Joshua Kimmich in Bayern’s midfield.

One example is the final matchday in which Bayern secured a last-minute Bundesliga title thanks to a brilliant goal by Jamal Musiala. Goretzka was brought on in the 71st minute for Ryan Gravenberch and then, with Bayern needing a goal to secure the title, was taken off just 14 minutes later and replaced by Mathys Tel.

A look at Goretzka’s statistics under Tuchel highlights that Goretzka has dropped in his standings internally. Goretzka was in the starting XI for the key Champions League games against Man City (1-4 on aggregate), and in the DFB Pokal quarterfinal loss to SC Freiburg (1-2), Tuchel increasingly dropped the midfielder’s minutes towards the end of the season. Of the last three games, Goretzka only started against Leipzig, another game that Bayern Munich lost (1-3).

In other words, when Bayern was desperate for points, Tuchel looked at other options than Goretzka. In some ways, that approach has been consequential as the 53-times national team player (14 goals) has for some time struggled to find the form that has made him a key component of Bayern’s treble-winning season in 2019/20.

Furthermore, going forward, it will be even more difficult for Goretzka to collect minutes. At the moment, Tuchel seems to prefer a double pivot of Kimmich and newly signed Konrad Laimer. Another option in midfield is Raphaël Guerreiro, who joined the club on a free transfer from Dortmund and although he will be mostly used as a right-back, the Portuguese star can also operate as a creative midfielder.

In other words, in Goretzka, Kimmich, Laimer, Guerreiro, Ryan Gravenberch, and Marcel Sabitzer, Bayern appears to have several options in midfield. Sabitzer is likely to be sold, but the market for the Austrian has gotten quiet. The same can be said for Gravenberch, where Liverpool was interested but has now secured other targets.

Liverpool, of course, was also once interested in Goretzka both before he joined Bayern but also in 2021, just before the 28-year-old signed a new contract with Bayern. That contract will expire in 2026 and, at the time, was widely celebrated as a major success by the decision-makers at the Säbener Straße.

Those decision-makers were Hasan Salihamidzic and Oliver Kahn. Both left the club at the end of the season. Could Goretzka soon follow them?

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