Bayern Munich aren’t losing sleep over signing a new centre-back this summer. They’re actually more interested in shoring up their defence somewhere else; right-back is the priority.

Back in January, Bayern let Sacha Boey leave on loan. The French defender just wasn’t getting minutes, so he went back to Galatasaray. Over there, he’s settled in fast and looks happy. Galatasaray have the option to buy, and honestly, it’s almost certain that Boey leaves Bayern for good when summer rolls around.

With Boey out, Bayern’s only real right-back is Konrad Laimer. Josip Stanisic can fill in, but he’s more comfortable on the left. Joshua Kimmich is too important in midfield, and Tom Bischof? Maybe as a last resort, but that’s not ideal.

So, Bayern are searching for a true right-back. Sky Sports Germany says they’ve added Benfica’s 17-year-old Daniel Banjaqui to their list. Banjaqui and his camp know Bayern are watching. Benfica might have to let him go; his contract’s up in 2027, but he’s only played three times for the first team this season, mostly sticking with the reserves.

If Bayern do land Banjaqui, they’d likely rotate him with Laimer next year. The big question is whether Banjaqui’s ready to jump into the deep end so early in his career.

Still, Givairo Read is the main name on Bayern’s list for right-back. He’s already talked to the club about a summer move. Bayern plan to push for him as soon as the window opens, but there’s a catch: Read is dealing with a hamstring injury, and they need to be sure he’s fully fit. He’s missed a chunk of this season because of it.

Feyenoord know Bayern want Read, but Manchester City are circling, too. Bayern can’t afford to drag their feet. If they can’t get Read, Banjaqui becomes the backup plan. For now, Read’s deal looks promising, but as always, things can change fast in the transfer market.

The draw’s done, and Bayern Munich will go up against Atalanta in the Champions League round of 16. The first leg’s in Bergamo, the second's back home at the Allianz Arena in Munich. If Bayern gets past Atalanta, things only get tougher; they’ll have to face either Real Madrid or Manchester City next. Meanwhile, the other side of the bracket looks a bit kinder. If Arsenal beats Bayer Leverkusen, they just have to deal with either Bodo Glimt or Sporting Lisbon.

But that’s the reality now, and Vincent Kompany’s got no choice but to keep his squad locked in, even with the growing injury list. Hiroki Ito’s the latest casualty; he picked up a muscle problem during training on Thursday at Säbener Straße.

Manuel Neuer, Bayern’s captain, has been out too since he left at halftime during the 3-0 win over Werder Bremen earlier this month. He was supposed to be back for the big Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund, but his recovery hit a snag. So, Jonas Urbig steps up again in goal.

There’s a real chance Neuer returns in time for the Atalanta matches, maybe even for both legs. Talking about Atalanta, Neuer made it clear: you can’t take them lightly. They just knocked out Dortmund after being down 2-0 from the first leg. He said, “We’ve had time to watch the games now, including Atalanta against Dortmund. Dortmund’s our next league opponent, and now Atalanta’s our Champions League rival. We saw how good Atalanta are at home; they can move mountains on their day. Honestly, it’s probably good we play in Bergamo first; after that, we’ll know exactly what we’re up against. Facing an Italian team in the Champions League just feels bigger than playing a German one like Leverkusen.”

This is actually the first time Bayern and Atalanta will meet. Still, Bayern knows what Italian sides can do. Atalanta recently beat Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen, VfB Stuttgart, and Eintracht Frankfurt in Europe. So, nobody’s underestimating them.