Bayern Munich 'plan to become a selling club' who will develop young talent

Bayern Munich 'plan to become a selling club' because the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic 'has left them unable to afford the salaries of top players.'

The German club, who have won the last nine Bundesliga titles and were European champions as recently as 2020, have been severely affected by their 75,000-capacity Allianz Arena sitting empty.

According to the German magazine Kicker, Bayern no longer plan to compete for world football's top talents but will concentrate on signing players aged between 20 and 22, develop them and sell at a large profit a few years later.

The 19-year-old Ajax midfielder Ryan Gravenberch, who has been linked with a move to Bayern, is cited as a good example of this proposed new strategy.

The Switzerland midfielder Denis Zakaria chose Juventus over Bayern during the January transfer window because the Italian club could offer higher wages, according to Kicker.

They say Bayern's proposed new model will see talented young players signed to contracts with hefty release clauses, play for Bayern for a few years and then sold on to other elite European clubs at a substantial profit.

The playing squad will reportedly consist of 13 or 14 first-team players plus another three or four younger players with 'special development potential.'

Kicker also report that Bayern are seeking partnerships with top division clubs in other European leagues so young players can gain valuable experience.

Instead of these rising stars turning out for Bayern's second team in the fourth-tier Regionalliga Bayern, they will be loaned to partner clubs who play at higher levels in Austria and Belgium.

Bayern will forge a partnership with Austrian Bundesliga club SK Austria Klagenfurt, who already have two Bayern loanees - Alex Timossi Andersson and Liu Shaoziyang - in their squad. Another partner club in Belgium is being sought.

Kicker also say that Bayern will prioritise the signing of a new right-back and at least one more centre-half in the summer.

Chelsea's Andreas Christensen, out of contract this summer, is one potential option but Bayern have ruled out a move for his team-mates Antonio Rudiger.