BAYERN MUNICH DELAY CALL ON RAPHAëL GUERREIRO AMID CONTRACT UNCERTAINTY
Bayern Munich face a contract dilemma with veteran defender Raphaël Guerreiro. The versatile Portuguese's deal expires in 2025, with the club weighing his squad value against a potential free transfer exit next summer.
In 2023, Raphaël Guerreiro joined Bayern Munich on a free transfer. Borussia Dortmund was where Guerreiro played the majority of his career before joining the Bavarian powerhouses. The Portuguese defender has had some success with Bayern over the last two and a half years and is undoubtedly a Bundesliga veteran. But that period of time may be ending.
At the club, Raphaël Guerreiro performed as predicted. A versatile player who can play anywhere on the left wing and in the middle without creating any issues for the team. Like Konrad Laimer, he is the epitome of a superb signing.
He never achieved great success or a starting position with the team, but he was well worth the money. Bayern will have to make a tough choice because his contract expires in the summer, according to Georg Holzner of Kicker (via @iMiaSanMia):
Raphaël Guerreiro's future has been addressed by Bayern recently, although they have not yet reached a conclusion. Even though January would be the final opportunity to obtain a fee for him, Bayern is not giving the sale of Guerreiro top priority. It is believed to be more valuable to keep him in the squad through the end of the season. Next year, somewhere in the spring, there will be formal discussions with the athlete and his management. Everything is currently open from both sides.
Given that Guerreiro first joined the team on a free transfer, Bayern Munich is prepared to let him go. It may seem counterintuitive, but given that Guerreiro's contract is about to expire, it is unlikely that he will fetch more than 5 million euros at age 31.
Whatever they decide, a decision will need to be made quickly. However, given Bayern's present record and the potential importance of a flexible player in the Champions League knockout stages with any number of backline ailments, it could be a shame to trade him for a little sum of money.
SERGE GNABRY SNUBS SUMMER FREE AGENCY TO SIGN NEW BAYERN DEAL
Serge Gnabry has signed a two-year extension with Bayern Munich, committing to a decade at the club and accepting a reported pay cut.
Bayern Munich spent the winter transfer window working behind the scenes to lock down key players for the future. Now, we’re starting to see the results. The club kicked things off on Thursday by announcing Serge Gnabry’s new two-year deal. If Gnabry hadn’t signed, he would’ve been out of contract in the summer and free to leave.
He’s clearly happy to stay. This extension means he’ll hit the ten-year mark at Bayern by the end of his new contract—no small feat in modern football.
The past year has been quite a ride for Gnabry. Not long ago, Bayern seemed open to letting him go. They listened to offers in the last two summer windows, but he dug in and fought for his spot. After a quiet season, he came back strong this year, especially during the Hinrunde. When Jamal Musiala was sidelined with a long-term injury, Gnabry filled in at number ten and made a real impact.
Staying in Munich was always his top choice, and as the season unfolded, the club opened the door for an extension. Reports even say he agreed to a pay cut to make it happen.
Gnabry’s not guaranteed to start every match these days. He’s not quite as sharp in front of goal as he once was, but his experience matters—especially in the big games. He can play anywhere across the front line, which gives Vincent Kompany tactical options. Off the pitch, his leadership is just as important. After everything he’s been through, Gnabry’s set an example for the younger players in the squad.
Bayern lost a lot of attacking experience last summer, with Kingsley Coman, Leroy Sane, and Thomas Müller all moving on. Keeping Gnabry just made sense, and his willingness to take a pay cut made the deal even easier for Bayern to seal.
BAYERN MUNICH HELD: VUSKOVIC AND VIEIRA STUN KOMPANY IN A WILD 2-2 HAMBURG DRAW
Luka Vuskovic and Fabio Vieira shine as Hamburg hold Bayern Munich to a 2-2 draw. Read the full Bundesliga match analysis here.
Bayern Munich dropped points again in the Bundesliga, settling for a 2-2 draw against Hamburg up north. Harry Kane and Luis Diaz both found the net for Bayern, who took the lead after Fabio Vieira had put Hamburg ahead with a first-half penalty. But Luka Vuskovic, who was everywhere for the hosts, powered in a header to snatch a well-earned point in a wild game at Volksparkstadion.
Early on, Bayern tried to quiet down the home crowd and pushed hard for the first goal. Still, it was Hamburg who struck first. About 30 minutes in, Nicolai Remberg beat Joshua Kimmich to a loose ball and drew a foul from the German midfielder. Fabio Vieira, on loan from Arsenal, coolly slotted the penalty past Manuel Neuer and into the bottom corner.
Bayern didn’t waste much time. Within ten minutes, Serge Gnabry slipped behind the defence and whipped in a cross. Kimmich’s awkward shot landed at Kane’s feet, and the England captain smashed it home. Kompany threw on Luis Diaz at halftime, and it paid off instantly. Diaz finished off a slick pass from Olise less than a minute after coming on.
Hamburg weren't rattled, though. Just eight minutes into the second half, Vuskovic muscled past Alphonso Davies and hammered in a header from William Mikelbrencis’ cross. Hamburg almost took the lead when Neuer fluffed a clearance, leaving Vieira with an open goal, but Davies raced back to clear it off the line. Bayern pushed for a winner and shouted for a couple of penalties, but the referee wasn’t having it. In the end, both sides walked away with a point.
Standout player? Luka Vuskovic, no question. The Croatian centre-back, on loan from Tottenham, gave Hamburg steel at the back and kept Kane pretty quiet. His equaliser—already his fourth of the season—showed a hunger and skill Spurs have been missing lately.
On the flip side, Vincent Kompany has to take some heat. The Bayern boss did well bringing on Diaz, but you wonder if starting him would’ve made the difference. Bayern had the lead but couldn’t finish the job, and Hamburg deserved their share of the spoils.