Goretzka Ends the Suspense: He's Bayern Bound

Chuck Smith
Jan 19, 2018
2 min read

In what could only be considered frustrating news for the rest of the Bundesliga, Leon Goretzka ended months of speculation by signing with Bayern Munich. Goretzka will join the Reds on July 1, 2018 under a four-year contract. Aside of his current team, Schalke 04, Liverpool and Barcelona were rumored to be high on the box-to-box midfielder before he ultimately chose Bayern.

The 6-2, 168 pound Goretzka became a hot commodity after proving himself in last Summer's Confederations Cup where Germany coach Jogi Löw opted to ride of a team of young and largely unproven Germans to title over a veteran squad from Chile. Since that point, Goretzka has had a dynamic season for Schalke 04, along with impressive showing for the German national team.

The fallout from the move will not be felt at Bayern until late Spring or Summer, but it is clear the team has created a logjam at midfield. Goretzka will potentially be joining the likes of Arturo Vidal, Thiago Alcantara, and Corentin Tolisso in the central midfield, with Javi Martinez and Sebastian Rudy competing for time in the defensive, holding midfield role. In addition, both Thomas Müller and James Rodriguez occupy time as attacking midfielders/forwards in the current Bayern alignment.

Vidal seems like the most likely to move as he is rumored to be coveted by Antonio Conte at Chelsea, along with a few Italian sides, namely Inter Milan. Vidal, of course, used to star in Serie A for Juventus. The talented Chilean still appears to have a few productive seasons left in his tank and could draw $100M or more in transfer fees. Fees that could be applied to potential replacements for Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben.

A few other possible outcomes, could involve a move back to Barcelona (or another destination) for Thiago or a transition to more time at left back for Rudy, who has show defensive aptitude and the versatility to make the move (especially given Juan Bernat's name being floated as a transfer target of several Premiere League and La Liga teams).

It would appear Tolisso is considered a building block for the future and is not going anywhere, while Martinez is a Jupp Heynckes favorite, who is cemented on the roster as long as Heynckes is the skipper.

Whatever happens, Bayern has once again established that current and future road to the Bundesliga crown ventures through Munich.