Bayern Munich has been one of the perennial powers in European soccer over the last few years and like every other top club across Europe, it is their intent to stay there. Staying one step ahead of the rest has undoubtedly cost the club a ton of money but they have also invested heavily in their future developing the next generations of talents.
Bayern has spent recent years loading up with the likes of Joshua Kimmich, Sinan Kurt, Sebastian Rode, Mario Gotze, Thiago Alcantara, Jan Kirchoff, Xherdan Shaqiri and Mitchell Weiser, and they have been that much better off because of it with a group of youngsters that can both contribute for them or potentially be moved to other teams at a fair price. With several key players on their current roster nearing the ends of their careers – including Philipp Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben – there will be a need to replace their top talent.
Bayern won’t be shy to spend money in order to acquire superstar players but they will also have the luxury of turning to some of their young stars as well. Here is a quick look at the top five most promising prospects in the Bayern system.
Pierre Hojbjerg
The Denmark international star has been a staple in the Augsberg lineup where he is currently on loan. The move has paid major dividends for the 19 year old as he has made significant strides as a full-time starter that has really been able to develop under Markus Weinzierl. It wasn’t long ago that Bayern fans would have wondered if he would ever play for them but considering his improvement and the fact that both Schweinsteiger and Alcantara have dealt with injuries, the Dane could be a perfect addition to the current roster as a versatile defender. He’d be a good fit to come off the bench and make spot starts when the team needed it.
Gianluca Gaudino
The fact that Gaudino was include in the senior Bayern team during the preseason as a 17 year old last summer was a clear sign that the club holds him in high regard. It is only a matter of time before he gets his opportunity. Gaudino holds the distinction of being the youngest Bayern player to ever feature in the club’s friendlies. While he still has a long way to go to reach his immense potential, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him with the club in expectation of eventually taking over as its starting midfielder.
Joshua Kimmich
The 20-year-old Kimmich was a star for the German Under-19 European Championship-winning side last summer and he has been very good as a regular starter at Leipzig this season. His energy and quickness are two of his best skills but he is also very hard on the ball and has shown a penchant for goal scoring in recent weeks. Kimmich is further along in age than some of the other names on this list and his experience could make him a more likely option to be called up sooner by Bayern.
Sinan Kurt
The 18 year old has scored seven goals in 15 games for the Bayern U-19 side but he has scored only once since November. His lack of production has been somewhat of a caution for a team that still believes he has a bright future. Kurt has all of the weapons to become a star at Bayern but he must continue his progression in order for him to eventually get a shot with the big club.
Niklas Dorsch
The defensive midfielder Dorsch captains the club’s Under-17 team where he is arguably the most talented player and brightest prospect looking forward to the future. Dorsch has the versatility to play a number of different positions and that could help in the future when it comes to the possibility of him earning a promotion one day. Dorsch isn’t outstanding in any one area but he can do a little bit of everything and that will help make him a more popular prospect as he looks to earn a promotion somewhere down the line.
