Bayern Munich has revealed the candidates for wingers it will pursue this summer. Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham Hotspur) still was not among the names mentioned.
Florian Plettenberg, a reporter for Sky Sports Germany, noted on social media on the 15th, "At least one new winger is expected to join Bayern in the upcoming summer transfer market. Various options are being considered."
Specific names of three transfer candidates have also been revealed. The previously mentioned Jamie Gittens (Dortmund) and Nico Williams (Athletic Club) in December were followed by Ryan Cherki (Olympique Lyon) being newly added.
Plettenberg said, "Gittens and Williams remain at the top of the transfer list as reported exclusively. How seriously Bayern participates in the transfer competition could be significantly influenced by the price tag, as the top priority is Florian Wirtz (Bayer Leverkusen)."
He also added, "Bayern continues to keep an eye on Cherki. They have already gathered all information related to his future plans coming in January." In summary, Bayern plans to prioritize the acquisition of attacking midfielder Wirtz while pursuing the transfer of a winger.
Currently, Bayern is in urgent need of a winger overhaul. Leroy Sane, Kingsley Coman, and Serge Gnabry, all of whom earn high salaries, have not been meeting expectations. Sane is still playing as a starter, but his contract will expire in six months.
Bayern legend Lothar Matthaus previously emphasized, "There will definitely be some changes in the winger position." He said, "There are three unstable candidates: Coman, Gnabry, and Sane. It is unlikely that all three will remain with the team next season. I won't mention names right now, but new names are being discussed. At least one will leave. Perhaps two could leave."
Germany's Abend Zeitung also reported, "Bayern will undergo significant changes in the attacking line. Sane is likely to leave again as he is not in good form. There are still question marks regarding the futures of Gnabry (contract expires in 2026) and Coman (contract expires in 2027). Both could have left the team last summer but decided to stay. At least one of them is likely to leave next year."
The most likely candidates for sale are Coman and Gnabry. Additionally, Bryan Saragosa, who is currently on loan at Osasuna, could leave the team again. Sane is also considering re-signing with Bayern, even if it means taking a pay cut, but it remains uncertain whether Bayern will extend a hand.
However, it is clear that Bayern is looking for young wingers. Gittens was born in 2004, Williams in 2002, and Cherki in 2003. The commonality is that they are all in their early 20s. Given their ages, one can glimpse Bayern's intention to prepare for the next era.
Thus, the speculation regarding Bayern's interest in Son Heung-min has lost momentum. His contract with Tottenham will expire in the summer of 2026. This is because Tottenham activated a simple one-year extension option in January instead of signing a new contract with Son this season.
Son Heung-min is also reported to be contemplating his future. According to The Times in the UK, Tottenham wants him to retire at the club but has not been able to persuade him to extend his contract.
Son Heung-min is said to be disappointed with Tottenham's lukewarm attitude. ESPN noted, "Son Heung-min is a very dedicated professional player and is concerned about the collective issues within the team," adding, "Son Heung-min is not a player who causes a stir. However, the player's side expressed disappointment that discussions regarding a new contract have not taken place. Instead, Tottenham decided to activate the one-year extension option."
This has reignited speculation about a transfer to Bayern Munich. Although not highly credible, Spanish outlet Pichajes claimed, "Son Heung-min is seriously considering a transfer to Bayern, and Bayern also plans to acquire him to strengthen their attacking power," stating, "Bayern evaluates Son as a player who 'perfectly aligns' with the team's tactical philosophy."
Indeed, Bayern had shown interest in Son Heung-min four years ago. Germany's TZ reported, "It is not the first time Bayern has shown interest in Son. They have been monitoring him since spring 2021 as an all-rounder in the attack. However, at that time, it failed due to contract renewal with Tottenham and a high transfer fee. Bayern would have had to offer €85 million (approximately 131.5 billion won) to sign Son back then."
Amid Son Heung-min's struggles at Tottenham, an offer from Bayern would be hard to resist. Unlike Tottenham, Bayern is always a team near trophies, and the presence of his 'buddy' Harry Kane adds to the allure. Son Heung-min and Kane set a Premier League record with a remarkable 47 goals combined during their time at Tottenham.
Previously, Kane also expressed a desire to bring Son Heung-min to Bayern. In December, he named Son as a player he would like to bring from Tottenham. He also mentioned, "My relationship with Son Heung-min is really good. We formed a great partnership at Tottenham, and we've become good friends off the pitch. I think we could do quite well together in the Bundesliga."
There is an atmosphere of expectation for the reunion between the two in Germany as well. Abend Zeitung emphasized, "Bayern's top scorer Kane sent a wish list to his boss, director Max Eberl. That list included the name of his former teammate Son Heung-min," asserting, "Son Heung-min must at least be included in Bayern's transfer targets. Since one of Gnabry, Coman, or Sane will leave, there will be a spot for him."
There were even claims that Bayern might consider signing Son Heung-min. At the time, Turkish journalist Ekrim Konur reported, "Bayern Munich could consider signing Son Heung-min if they fail to acquire Xavi Simons." Given the competition for Simons is fierce, they might target Son as a fallback option.
However, as Bayern's pursuit of young wingers in their early 20s has come to light, the speculation regarding Son's transfer has faded. Given that Bayern needs a winger to lead the next era, it is hard to rank 33-year-old Son Heung-min high on their list.
However, if Bayern views Son Heung-min as a multi-backup resource capable of competing for a starting position, there is still a slight possibility. Max Eberl, Bayern's director, recently stated that they are looking for a versatile attacker who can play as both a winger and a striker. Veteran Son Heung-min could also be a good choice if the transfer fee isn't too high.
[Photo] ⓒGettyimages (No unauthorized reproduction or redistribution), Goal Post Asia, Nonstop Football, Bayern for Life, Talk Sports, Harry Kane social media.
[OSEN = Ko Seong-hwan reporter]