FC Bayern München v Paris Saint-Germain - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD5
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Bayern Munich’s search for a Florian Wirtz contingency plan continues as the former Bayer Leverkusen man finally completed his move to Liverpool last week. Bayern has maintained a shortlist of different options, but with every passing day comes a new narrative out of the rumor mill that makes it seem and feel like the German Rekordmeister’s options are quickly running out.
All of RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons, Chelsea’s Christopher Nkunku, Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo, Athletic Club’s Nico Williams, Brighton and Hove Albion’s Kaoru Mitoma, Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze, and AC Milan’s Rafael Leão have all been linked with Bayern at one point or another within the past two months. Nothing has progressed to a concrete stage for any of the aforementioned players and Bayern has also held hopes of trying to sign Bradley Barcola from Paris Saint-Germain, but a potential move for the 22-year old now looks to be close to impossible.
Per information from Sky Germany journalist Florian Plettenberg, PSG CEO Nasser Al-Khelaidi has recently confirmed that Barcola is very much a part of the club’s plans under Luis Enrique moving forward. In addition to the affirmation from Al-Khelaifi, Barcola himself has not expressed any desire to leave PSG this summer on the heels of a season where he 21 goals and 19 assists across all competitions on the way to securing a treble.
As things stand, Barcola’s contract with PSG runs through June 2028, but the club are committed to keeping hold of such a high caliber young talent. Both Chelsea and Arsenal had also expressed interest in trying to sign him this summer, but PSG has remained firm in their stance that he is not for sale any time soon.
Both Max Eberl and Christoph Freund have said that Barcola would be a “dream” transfer for Bayern, but they will likely be after to focusing their efforts elsewhere with PSG doubling down on keeping the winger. Most of the other transfer targets they have been looking at are valuated at around 70-million euros, just as Barcola currently is.