Some of the Bavarians' best players will be free agents at the end of the season, while their most valuable player has just 18 months left on his deal
There's always someone worse off… While bitterly frustrated Liverpool fans are presently wondering how on earth Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold have been allowed to enter the final six months of their respective contracts, it's nothing compared to the sense of anxiety at the Allianz Arena right now.
Rather incredibly, seven senior Bayern Munich players are set to become free agents this summer, and another, Jamal Musiala, has just 18 months left on his deal. The Bavarians have been badly burned before – Michael Ballack, Nicklas Sule and David Alaba all infamously left Bayern for nothing at various points of the past – but the summer of 2025 could be truly catastrophic for the club.
So, how has it come to this? And what chance do Bayern have of convincing some of their most important players to sign extensions? GOAL breaks it all down below…
Getty Images SportManuel Neuer (& Sven Ulreich)
Are Bayern planning for a future without Manuel Neuer? It would certainly appear so. Alexander Nubel is currently impressing on loan to Stuttgart, while Bayern sporting director Max Eberl has done nothing to dismiss reports that Jonas Urbig will join from Koln this month.
As it stands, though, both Neuer and his long-time understudy Sven Ulreich are expected to stay at the Allianz Arena for another season. The pair both signed extensions on the same day in November 2023 – and don't be surprised if they do likewise in the coming weeks.
"There's nothing official at the moment," Neuer said earlier this week. "But when the time comes, you will hear about it, and I would just say, it will be soon."
AdvertisementGetty Images SportEric Dier
Bayern's decision to sign Eric Dier during the 2024 January transfer window took an awful lot of people by surprise, given his struggles at Spurs.
But the former England international has proven himself a very useful addition to the squad. He made 20 appearances during the second half of last season, and although he's seen far less game time under new coach Vincent Kompany, he's certainly earned the Belgian's respect after stepping into the starting line-up after the winter break and helping Bayern keep back-to-back clean sheets, against Borussia Monchengladbach and Hoffenheim.
"Eric is a player with a lot of experience who knows what to do in these moments," Kompany enthused. "Players like Eric have character and always prioritise the team."
Those sentiments were echoed by Eberl after the 5-0 win over Hoffenheim: "Eric is always there when needed and he's a good man to have in the dressing room."
However, Eberl also admitted that there have not yet been any discussions with Dier or his people over a new deal and, in all likelihood, there won't be, with the 31-year-old widely expected to leave this summer.
AFPThomas Muller
Thomas Muller is a bona fide Bayern Munich legend. He's spent his entire professional career at the club, winning everything worth winning. Fair to say, then, that he's earned the right to decide what to do next – and that's exactly the position he finds himself in.
As far as Bayern are concerned, Muller's future is up to him. There's a one-year extension there for him if he wants it. It's even been claimed that a coaching role is on the table too. As it stands, then, it would be a surprise if Muller doesn't retire at the Allianz Arena, but we won't find out his plans until he sits down to discuss his future with his Bayern bosses in March or April.
"The talks with Thomas will certainly be very brief," Eberl told last week. "There will be no lengthy negotiations. It’s simply a question of: 'Hey, do you still want to continue or not?'
"Thomas is an iconic figure at FC Bayern and will remain so. He has experienced everything with this club and he's extremely important to us."
Getty Images SportLeroy Sane
Bayern Munich agreed to pay Manchester City an initial €45 million for Leroy Sane (and a potential €15m in add-ons) in the summer of 2020. He was unquestionably the kind of talent a team could be constructed around.
However, the past four-and-a-half years have shown precisely why Pep Guardiola was willing to let Sane leave. He continues to be dogged by the same inconsistency that was such a source of frustration at the Etihad – which is precisely why he's poised to become the most expensive signing ever to leave Bayern on a free transfer.
Sane, however, is desperate to stay, so much so, in fact, that he's even reportedly willing to accept a pay cut. It should also be noted that nothing has yet been decided, while the 29-year-old winger is also doing everything he can to convince the club that he's worth keeping, with four goals in his last four Bundesliga appearances, after netting just once in his previous nine.
Given he's available for no fee, Sane won't be short of offers right now, but if he can maintain his rich vein of form during the second half of the season, he could well get the extension he craves.
"We've never said that Leroy doesn't have a future at Bayern," Eberl said after Sane's double against Hoffenheim on Wednesday. "We know what he can do. Leroy has incredible quality. If he can show it like he did tonight, then he is, of course, a player Bayern could consider re-signing."