Bayern chiefs 'would have preferred Schmeichel over Sommer' as emergency signing

The Bayern Munich hierarchy would have preferred signing Kasper Schmeichel in January over Yann Sommer, it has been reported in Germany.

Sommer, 34, was brought in on an emergency basis after long-standing No 1 Manuel Neuer suffered a freak leg break on a post-World Cup ski trip.

The Switzerland international signed a two-and-a-half year deal with Bayern Munich having paid Borussia Monchengladbach £7m to sign him.

However, it has been reported by Kicker that the club chiefs would have rather signed the former Leicester goalkeeper who is currently with Nice in Ligue 1.

The decision to go for Sommer instead, it is claimed, was one made by Julian Nagelsmann, who was unceremoniously sacked late last month and replaced by Thomas Tuchel.

Schmeichel would have signed for just six months, meaning the path for Neuer's return would be much clearer while Alex Nubel, on loan with Monaco, would also return to the first team fold.

Peter Schmeichel revealed in February that his son was close to signing, though they opted for Sommer instead.

'It is now Yann Sommer in goal but it could have been my son,' the Manchester United legend said.

'On the very, very same day they signed Yann Sommer, they were also in talks with my son because it took them about 10 days to agree terms with Borussia Monchengladbach.

Nagelsmann wanted a longer-term option and a German-speaking goalkeeper, it is claimed, meaning Sommer was brought in.

He has so far proved unconvincing, with Bayern Munich out of the Champions League, the German domestic cup and now trailing Borussia Dortmund in the league.

Sommer could soon find himself sat on the bench with Sven Ulreich, the veteran back-up goalkeeper, potentially to be called in.

The German giants are currently mired in an almighty crisis from top to bottom, with reports of executives unsure of their futures and fury at how the season has been allowed to derail itself quite so spectacularly.

When Bayern Munich sacked Nagelsmann late last month they trailed Borussia Dortmund in the league, but remained in the Champions League, having just beaten Paris Saint-Germain 3-0 on aggregate, and in the German cup.

Since Tuchel's arrival, they continue to trail Dortmund in the league while they have been eliminated from both competitions.

Such is the scale of the crisis engulfing the club right now, it is claimed Tuchel's future is by no means certain, despite only being appointed a few weeks ago. He has only won two of his seven games in charge so far.

Dietmar Hamann has claimed that Tuchel will be fired if Borussia Dortmund win the title.

As reported by Ruhr Nachrichten, Hamann said: 'The leadership may be confused, but the coach also makes a very confused impression in his four weeks so far.

'If he also gambles away the championship, it's clear that he'll be fired.'

Bayern Munich's 3-1 defeat at Mainz over the weekend allowed Dortmund to gain an edge in a pulsating title race.

The club's supervisory board will meet on May 22, five days before Bayern's final game of the league season away to Koln, to discuss the futures of their CEO, sporting director and first-team manager, according to Bild.

Kahn, 53, has been CEO of Bayern Munich since July 2021, and his contract is set to run until the end of 2024, although senior management may decide that his time overseeing matters at the Allianz Arena should come to an end before that.

The former German goalkeeper has no plans to quit the role despite calls for him to resign.

After Saturday's fixture, Kahn responded to a question about a possible resignation by stating: 'My only goal is to bring an end to the season with the league title – and then really attack again in the new season.'

Bosnian Hasan Salihamidzic, 46, has been sporting director at the German club since 2017.