Bayern Munich midfielder Leon Goretzka is expected to stay at the Allianz Arena for the upcoming season following the departure of Joao Palhinha.
Manchester United have been heavily linked with a move for Goretzka in recent transfer windows, and there were suggestions that he could be sold in the summer.
Back in May, we covered that Bayern were looking to offload as many as six players, and Goretzka was one of them.
Man Utd set to miss out on Leon Goretzka
Tomas Belmonte tackles Leon Goretzka during Club World Cup game.
(Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images)
The midfield is one area the Red Devils can look to improve this summer.
Ruben Amorim’s side has signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo so far, and they are reportedly trying to sign a striker, with Benjamin Sesko being linked.
However, after allowing Christian Eriksen to depart in the summer, United looked at bolstering the midfield, and there were suggestions that they could revisit their interest in Goreztka.
Christian Falk told CFBayern that Bayern’s sporting directors, Max Eberl (51) and Christoph Freund (47), were taking cost-cutting measures, and they were looking to offload Goreztka, who would cost in the region of £18.4 million.
He was seen as too expensive and someone who had passed his prime. Goretzka mostly ended up on the bench or didn’t make the squad last season, and it felt like his departure was inevitable.
However, he fought back brilliantly and got his spot back in the starting lineup under Vincent Kompany. The perception around him has changed, and there’s no way he would be sold now after Palhinha’s exit to Tottenham.
Goretzka would have been a good signing for Man Utd
The Red Devils were reportedly linked with a move for Palhinha before he joined Spurs, but Goretzka could have been a better signing.
Palhinha joined Tottenham on loan last week, with the north London club having the option to sign the Portuguese midfielder permanently. His exit means Bayern are now under no pressure to sell Goretzka, unless Man Utd or any other club make a solid offer.
The former Schalke midfielder has been with Bayern since 2018, and he has made over 260 appearances for the club, scoring 45 goals.
His vast experience and quality would have come in handy along with his passing ability (90.6% accuracy), per Sofascorfe.
However, it does not look like United would make any concrete effort to sign him now, nor would he leave Bayern.
The Bayern Insider: Alexander Isak to Liverpool just got easier
Follow us on Instagram for more content straight to your mobile phone!