New Contracts Are Paramount For Bayern Munich’s Future

Alphonso Davies is a Real Madrid target. That news made the rounds in German, Spanish, and North American media this weekend. Although the report by AS can easily be dismissed as a holiday week filler, it was not left unnoticed by Bayern Munich’s decision-makers as they are now moving towards renewing not just Davies’ contract but also want to keep Jamal Musiala long-term in Munich.

Davies, his contract runs until 2024, and Musiala, his contract expires in 2026, are considered indispensable for Bayern’s future plans. Not surprisingly, Bayern will now move forward with their plans to provide new contracts to both players in 2023. In fact, signing Davies and Musiala to long-term deals will be an important cornerstone as Bayern Munich tries to defend its position as one of the world’s top five clubs.

Davies is the face of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As a result, signing the left-back to a contract beyond 2026 will be paramount for the Rekordmeister. A report by Sport Bild last October suggested that Davies earns about €9.5 million (around $10 million) a season at Bayern; a new deal will likely see him become one of the top earners at the club—Sadio Mané earns €22 million ($24 million) according to the same Sport Bild report.

A new deal would not only make Davies a top earner, but it would also further cement his role as one of the faces at the club. The Canadian would ascent into the same category as Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer. Does that mean Davies will be at the Rekordmeister forever? Not necessarily, the story of David Alaba, another player in that category, shows that Bayern do lose their legends but usually not until the player reaches their late 20s or early 30s.

That might be in Bayern’s interest, anyhow. A recent study by Goalimpact highlighted that sprinters of Davies’ category usually reach their prime at around 27 and then start to drop in overall performance. That prime for Davies would be around 2027, well beyond the World Cup in North America.

Far removed from his prime is Musiala. The 19-year-old German attacking midfielder is a generational talent in the same category as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Erling Haaland, and Kylian Mbappé.

Although Bayern Munich is a mega club, stars of that category are impossible to acquire for the Rekordmeister. The decision-makers at the Säbener Straße are aware that they have a player who, on the open market, would cost far more than his $100 million market value.

Furthermore, it is an open secret that the likes of Real Madrid and the top teams in England have followed Musiala’s career with some interest and would be willing to break the bank to acquire the playmaker.

Musiala started the season on €5 million ($5.5 million) but had mechanisms in his contract that ensured a natural raise to around €8 million ($8.8 million). A new deal is expected to increase his salary further significantly. Müller, who is a comparable player, earns around €20.5 million ($21.7 million).

Therefore, signing both Davies and Musiala to new contracts will be an expensive undertaking for Bayern in 2023 and might take away funds from new signings. But make no mistake, these two will define the immediate future for the Rekordmeister. They would be impossible to sign on the open market, which makes their contract renewals the most important strategic decision in the club’s recent history.

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