Bayern Munich fans were worried heading into the 2025/26 season, given that the squad had become considerably smaller. Would this squad be able to stand up to the strain of going far in all three competitions? The answer was…sort of. The emergence of Lennart Karl was unbelievably important as the Bavarians won the domestic double and reached the semifinals of the Champions League, but it is not difficult to make a case that fatigue played a role in exiting Europe’s most elite competition as so many
of their key players racked up many minutes.
Will Bayern fans have the same worries heading into the 2026/27 season? The team seemed to have depth and strength in numbers just a few weeks ago, but now depth forward Arijon Ibrahimovic is nearing a move away and backup center back Hiroki Itō is being further linked with a move away. Tz reports (as captured by @iMiaSanMia) that the player’s own management is pushing for a move to the Netherlands:
Hiroki Itō has been offered to Ajax by his management. The Dutch club is considering him as an option to strengthen their backline. A last-minute move before deadline is possible (the window closes on Wednesday in the Netherlands.
Now, it is, of course, possible that Itō is not happy with the limited role he is shaping up to have next season and that he is the sole driving force behind the offer to Ajax. He is the club’s third choice LB and the fourth choice CB, so it remains to be seen just how much he will play. But he will get minutes if he stays, meaning Bayern would need to replace him somehow. If he is sold, Bayern will be forced into a choice. Whether the Bavarians would expect the squad to carry the burden, a youth CB like Cassiano Kiala to replace him or if they are preparing a last minute transfer for a target in such a scenario remains to be seen.
BFW Analysis
Itō has fractured the metatarsal in his right foot three times during his desperately unlucky two years at Bayern, meaning it is not only fair to worry about his ability to stay fit but also how well his foot will respond in the future.
As ruthless as it may seem, it makes sense for Bayern to try to move the Japanese international on. If Bayern were to look for a replacement, there are still options available to interest the club. Bayern have been linked to Feyenoord right back Givairo Read for around a year and he has not transferred yet, meaning they could look to try and get him and let Josip Stanišić slot into the role of 4th choice CB. Perhaps FC Twente’s left footed center-back Ruud Nijstad could fill the gap at the heart of defense. He has been linked with a move away for a (comparatively) very low eight-digit fee.
Bayern will need to consider this hard, though. The transfer window is nearly shut and the Bavarians cannot count on players remaining as fit as they did last season.
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