Bayern Munich have not given up on Maurice Krattenmacher despite letting him leave this summer, according to British media outlet talkSPORT.
The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Hertha Berlin before Bayern sold him to SV Elversberg, hoping he would gain solid Bundesliga experience there.
Bayern wisely included a buy-back clause in his contract, anticipating that strong performances after his departure would make it worthwhile, and that is now proving to be the case.
Bayern's buy-back clause for Krattenmacher is reportedly worth €7.5 million (£6.2 million), and his contract with SV Elversberg runs until June 2030.
In September, he nearly caused an upset against the Bavarian giants, scoring a spectacular goal in his team's 1-2 loss to Bayern Munich.
Although his side lost, the 21-year-old's progress has been noted by Munich's hierarchy, who hope he can play alongside Ballon d'Or winner Kane.
Krattenmacher himself has left the door open for a return to Bayern, having previously said: "Of course, it's every young player's dream to play for Bayern Munich."
However, he emphasized that his priority is continued development, stating: "I feel that sometimes you have to accept choices that look like a step backward in order to take two steps forward."
In addition, Bayern Munich are currently dealing with multiple attacking injuries, with Musiala, Luis Díaz, Gnabry and Ismaël Saibari all unavailable.
European football expert Andy Brassell told talkSPORT.com that he believes Krattenmacher could solve a big problem for them.
He said: "I think the first few weeks of this season have shown that Bayern are in a win-win situation.
"They will activate the buy-back clause, because Krattenmacher has made such a good start to the season that there's no way he'll still be at SV Elversberg next season.
"Certainly not, because his level is too high. As a fan, you'd be excited about him, but I think as a scout, you'd be even more excited because he offers so many solutions.
"He's good at creating space in tight areas, can make late runs into the box from midfield, can find those gaps, can play on the left or the right, is good with both feet, can dribble, can shoot with both feet inside and outside the box, and has a good long-range shot.
"I just want to see what the numbers look like at the end of the season, because if he continues this form, SV Elversberg won't be anywhere near relegation. Don't forget, they were considered strong relegation candidates at the start of the season.
"Their club is in a town with no train station and no town hall; they even had to build a press box just to accommodate more people."
SV Elversberg are currently seventh in the Bundesliga with 13 points, level on points with Bayer Leverkusen, who occupy a European qualification spot.
Krattenmacher has made eight appearances this season, scoring four goals and providing one assist, an output that Bayern badly need amid their injury crisis.
Bayern's injury solution
Brassell added: "It's a bit like scaffolding right now. It's a very special situation. You have this young lad coming in from a completely different environment, away from the Bayern training ground and the whole setup, so it will definitely be a bit of a culture shock for him.
"But he's performed exceptionally well and has embraced the challenge. He also has good teammates to play alongside, like Cole Campbell from Borussia Dortmund, for whom SV Elversberg actually spent real money.
"So I think either Bayern will bring Krattenmacher back for their own use – don't rule that out, given how many attacking injuries they have right now. I wonder if they'll try to bid for him in January.
"Of course, SV Elversberg have every right to refuse. I'm not sure whether they will, because if they can get a large sum of money, it would be a significant income for them, as their most expensive signing in club history cost only just over £5 million.
"That's already a significant investment for them. Getting a decent transfer fee for a player who doesn't seem to be planning a long-term stay is certainly a good thing.
"If Bayern don't bring him back to cover these current attacking injuries – and don't forget, Saibari probably won't be back until January or February next year at the earliest – then another mid-table Bundesliga team will sign him next season.
"Because I think if you put him in any team outside the top six or top eight, he'd easily make the starting lineup. He also brings a bit of an X-factor to those teams."
wayaeopstu
1
good Technik, fast (35,43 km/h) and a very good shot.