Why Bayern Munich Are Having the Best Summer of Any Club in World Football

As teams all over the world look to strengthen their squads in the summer transfer window, one team continues to cement its already commanding position at the top of the European game.

Rumors fly at this time of year, and among most of Europe's top teams, the big coveted move that everyone is talking about has yet to become reality.

For the time being, Madrid haven't signed Gareth Bale, Manchester United have yet to acquire Cesc Fabregas, and Chelsea haven't landed Luis Suarez. 

Munich, on the other hand, had already completed their biggest summer signing before winning the Champions League, with Mario Gotze already confirmed en route to the Allianz Arena.

Since then, the Bavarians have strengthened their defense with the free transfer of youngster Jan Kirchhoff from FSV Mainz, and swept in ahead of David Moyes for Barcelona's rising star, Thiago Alcantara.

The Thiago move in particular came as a surprise, with reports suggesting that Manchester United were inches away from a deal.

But the influence of Pep Guardiola, newly in charge, carried the day as he was able to persuade the Spanish under-21 captain to join him in Germany.

Barcelona can compete with Munich as far as the headline-grabbing signings go, having completed the Neymar deal that sees the Brazilian's long-awaited arrival at Camp Nou. But Tito Vilanova has already been forced to compromise other parts of his squad—in particular, Neymar's arrival may have played a role in Thiago's departure—for a risky and expensive bet on a player untested in Europe.

Munich's transfers, on the other hand, are a much safer bet.

It's true, Munich failed to persuade Borussia Dortmund to let go of one of their own biggest targets, Robert Lewandowski. But Munich already look a much stronger side than the one that took Europe by storm last season, and that's terrible news for the rest of Europe.

With Gotze and Thiago on the books along with Ribery, Muller, and Robben—for the time being, at least—Munich will have the strongest attacking midfield outfit in the world, with a sumptuous blend of youth and experience, power and technique, discipline and guile. 

The departure of Mario Gomez may leave them somewhat depleted at striker, but the big German was likely to see his time on the pitch decline even more with the arrival of Pep Guardiola. 

Munich already look well-prepared to repeat their exploits from the past campaign. But there's time yet in the transfer window, and more surprises are certainly in store.