Why Early Transfer Business Proves Bayern Munich Are Europe's Smartest Operators
The summer transfer window is still almost a month away from opening, yet Bayern Munich are already well under way with their preparations for the 2016-17 season.
Last month, the Bavarians announced the official signings of Borussia Dortmund defender Mats Hummels and Benfica midfielder Renato Sanches, effective July 1.
The acquisitions of Hummels and Sanches were sudden and, especially in the latter's case, unexpected. Yet Bayern got their men, making them the earliest among Europe's elite clubs to complete their first two major transfers. And their diligence to get work done early is something that proves their intelligence and will be rewarded next season. In fact, it already has been.
Rather than allowing other clubs the opportunity to step in and make offers for the players they wanted, Bayern didn't dillydally.
The best example in this instance is Sanches, whose acquisition surprised global sport media. There was no scoop in any major publication reporting of a possible swoop for the 18-year-old in the days before his capture. Thus, there was no warning for other potential suitors to table their bids and compete for his signature.
Hummels' signing took a bit more time in the public eye. But in his case, the narrative all along was that he would either move to Bayern or stay at Dortmund; there was hardly a word about any other club.
This suggests that the Bavarians spoke with him before BVB announced (via their official website, in German) his intent to leave the Signal-Iduna Park and that the only reason for any delay was negotiating a transfer fee between the clubs.
Bayern made sure they got their man and that they never entered a bidding war with big spenders like Manchester City, Real Madrid, Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
The fact that Bayern made their moves before Euro 2016 also helped. While it's conceivable that a player's stock could decrease during the Euros, the risk-reward balance is skewed far more towards the likelihood of a player becoming much more attractive to potential suitors after a major international tournament.
If a player has a poor Euro 2016, he probably won't depreciate much in value, if at all. But one needs only to look at James Rodriguez to see how a summer tournament can inflate a player's value: The Colombian was magnificent at the 2014 World Cup and fetched (per Transfermarkt) a fee of €75 million. Prior to the tournament, he may have commanded a fee more in the region of half that value.
The benefits of Bayern doing business early are not limited to finances and ensuring they get their desired players. There is also a sporting benefit.
Many clubs often wait until deadline day to move for the players they feel they need in order to succeed. The problem in this practice is that new players are signed several weeks into the campaign. Some are able to adapt quickly: Arjen Robben is a prime example, having scored on his debut for Bayern just days after completing his transfer in 2009.
In general, however, it is much better for a player to have as much time to acclimate in pre-season as possible. It takes time for a player to move and settle into his new living and working environment, to begin to understand the coach's system and develop a rapport with his team-mates and the coaching staff.
This is especially true for younger players who are not yet used to moving from club to club as professional footballers often do and for players making an international transfer. So for Sanches, the circumstances surrounding his transfer are quite ideal.
"World class CB at his peak for 5 years? Hummels to Bayern is a great deal! pic.twitter.com/P5MihhqYOZ
— Cristian Nyari (@CrisNyari) May 23, 2016"
All this perhaps explains why Bayern have enjoyed a relatively good record with signings in recent years, at least the players they have invested sizable sums in (in wages and transfer fees) to sign. It's not a matter of chaos and disarray when bringing in new signings: The newcomers are carefully selected and typically signed quite early in the transfer window. Through organisation and deliberate action, a sense of stability is achieved.
Many among Europe's richest clubs will spend the upcoming days trying to figure out which players to pursue in the summer, and few will land their man before Euro 2016 begins. Once the competition kicks off, their targets will predictably postpone any negotiations until after the tournament's end, at which time they may be much more attractive and expensive.
Many big transfers will only take place in August, and some will only occur in the final days of the transfer window. Such is reality in the case of the transfer market in today's footballing culture.
Bayern Munich have typically avoided the uncertainty of late transfer window dealings in recent years, and their acquisitions of Hummels and Sanches are perfect examples of the Bavarian giants' intelligence in the transfer market.
They've been smart, and they will be rewarded for it with prices that will be considered bargains in retrospect and with players who will begin the season more settled and more prepared to help Bayern meet their goals.
