Liverpool have recently been linked with moves for Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala.
You’d be forgiven for thinking Liverpool bosses must have their Bayern Munich counterparts on speed dial today.
The Reds signed Ryan Gravenberch from Bayern this summer, worth up to £40m, having initially sold Sadio Mane for £27.5m, just over a year ago. Meanwhile, Liverpool signed Bundesliga giants Thiago Alcantara for £20m in the summer of 2020.
Given that Pepe Reina’s permanent move to Munich in the summer of 2014 was the only previous time the two sides had concluded negotiations, this new business route marks the start of three moves in three years.
Just this week, the Reds have been linked with Bavarian duo Leroy Sane and Jamal Musiala, while summer speculation has also seen them move for Joshua Kimmich and Benjamin Pavard. I wonder how long it will be before Mathys Tel, Matthijs de Ligt or Alphonso Davies are treated like this.
If there are trade offers from Pavard or Sane, at least eyebrows can be raised. Neither player fits Liverpool’s desired profile as a transfer target, as the Reds did not attempt to sign ahead of a move to Inter Milan this summer.
But it’s a different story for Musiala, with Bild reporting earlier this week that Liverpool are interested in the Germany international and that his agents are not in talks with Bayern over a new contract. FYI, his current contract expires in 2026. Still only 20, the midfielder would fit the Reds’ transfer model. With his best years firmly ahead of him, Liverpool would be better off if they signed him, but would still have significant return value.
He also featured in the Premier League for nine years at Southampton and Chelsea before moving to Bayern as a 16-year-old in 2019. Due to UEFA’s demands on players, he was unable to achieve such status in European competition. . spent three full seasons in the same association between the ages of 15 and 21 to qualify for the qualifiers.
He is also extremely versatile, having played as a 10th, 8th defensive two-pivot midfield and on both wings since his Bayern debut in June 2020. Given Liverpool’s links to Sane as a possible replacement for Mohamed Salah earlier this week, it would be easy, if lazy, to assume that Musiala is better suited for such a role. The 20-year-old, who scored 16 goals and 16 assists in 47 games last season, has already surpassed his senior team-mate’s career best in the campaign.
Despite his limited experience on the right, with four goals and two assists in eight games for Bayern, Musiala is not a true winger. And of course, with his right foot, he certainly wouldn’t have been tipped over like Salah and Sane.
His record on the left is 10 goals and three assists in 30 games, although the Reds don’t need another left back with Luis Diaz, Cody Gakpo and Diogo Jota. So, if Liverpool were to move for Musiala, he would likely be more of a versatile midfielder than a striker, with most of his playing time for the Bavarians coming in the engine room.
The Reds brought in four new midfielders in Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai, Wataru Endo and Gravenberch in a £150m overhaul in the summer. But this does not mean that their reformation is complete.
They have still been praised for their interest in confirmed target Andre Trindade, apparently just need the natural possession of 30-year-old Endo on a short-term deal and could be in the market for Thiago’s replacement next summer. The Spaniard hoped to move on after the end of his contract. Musiala could technically fill the last spot in the team. It remains to be seen whether Liverpool could favor such a deal, as they still need to set long-term targets for Salah and Virgil van Dijk in midfield.
Like Gravenberch before him, Musiala has started to get chances at Bayern as he competes with Thomas Muller for a place in Thomas Tuchel’s starting line-up. He has started just twice in the Bundesliga this season and eight in 13 since his last manager took over in March. Bild claims he wants clarification on his role at the club before deciding on his future.
If Liverpool had the chance to sign Musia for a lower price, you’d expect them to be caught up in the kind of transfer speculation that seems more likely than that of his team-mate Sane. But despite ticking plenty of red boxes, the Germany international may have bigger transfer priorities to deal with at the moment.
