The summer transfer window will be a chance for the rich to get richer and for Bayern Munich manager Pep Guardiola, there will be no shortage of options as he looks to reload with some key additions. It has already been confirmed that Bayern Munich will add Joshua Kimmich in July and Pierre Hojbjerg is set to return from his loan spell at Augsburg, but the moves will not end there. Bayern revealed goalkeeper Sven Ulriech will join their team and there is a good chance the pieces are already in place for Guardiola to bring in at least a couple more talented players. Here is a look at the potential summer transfers that will fit Guardiola’s system at Bayern Munich.
Angel Di Maria, Midfield
Guardiola has had no shortage of creative players during his stints at Barcelona and Bayern with names like Lionel Messi, Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery leading his charges but with both Robben and Ribery getting up there in playing years, it will be on Guardiola to stay ahead of the curve and find the elite talent to replace them. Di Maria could be one of the best options as a creative attacking player that is versatile enough to fill a couple of different spots for Guardiola either as an attacking winger or a central midfielder at Bayern Munich. Manchester United is clearly not the right fit for the Argentine superstar as the chemistry never quite worked out. However, his ball skills would be a welcome addition in Germany where Guardiola could plug him in as a younger piece that helps the transition from veteran stars like Robben and Ribery at Bayern Munich.
Marco Verratti, Midfield
Another player that will get a ton of attention this summer is PSG’s Marco Verratti, who has an excellent first touch and dribble as well as the high mental sense of the game that makes him such an effective ball distributor in the middle of the field. Verratti is only 5’5’ but he understands how to use his size to his advantage and he is still only now reaching his prime at 22 years old. Guardiola will need to add some creativity to his midfield and while Di Maria might be the best option on the board, Verratti is another excellent option as another potential summer transfer player.
Eden Hazard, Midfield
Hazard plays a very similar style to Ribery and he would be an excellent fit for Bayern but the problem is how they could potentially lure him away. He’s currently entrenched at Chelsea where he played an integral role in helping them win a Premier League title this past season. As odd as it sounds to see his name in transfer rumors after the season he had – especially since he’s signed with the Blues all the way through 2020 – the truth is that this isn’t the first team to be chasing him (Real Madrid), so it looks like he’s available. In terms of straight fit, though, Hazard would be the ideal signing for Bayern Munich.
Ilkay Gundogan, Midfield
Guardiola was blessed to have a creative midfielder like Andres Iniesta at Barcelona, so it would only makes sense that he would be interested in a player that has been referred to as the “German Iniesta” in Ilkay Gundogan. A creative playmaker that has excellent vision and ball skills, Gundogan showed off his skill set at Borussia Dortmund both in the Bundesliga and the Champions League in 2012-13. Despite missing all of last year with a persistent back injury, he is still just 24 years old and could be a star at Bayern Munich. The good news is that given the season that he’s coming off of, he should come at a more reasonable price. Gundogan’s health will be the biggest concern but if he is able to still play at a high level he should be considered as a summer transfer by Guardiola.
