4 European Under-21 Stars Who Should Be on Bayern Munich's Radar

With the summer transfer window on the verge of its official opening, Bayern Munich have some considerable work to do. The German giants looked a decided step below the Champions League's elite clubs last season, and with several aging stars, they will be looking to freshen up their squad.

The Bavarians have never yet made a "galacticos"-type signing, and if their history is an indicator, they won't splurge to sign a €60-million-or-more player like Antoine Griezmann or Angel Di Maria. 

Fortunately, this month's Under-21 European Championship offers a great opportunity for Bayern to look around for good deals. The continent's finest burgeoning young talents are currently showcasing their class in the Czech Republic-based tournament, and many could be on the move to top sides like Bayern.

Click "Begin Slideshow" to see B/R's picks for the top players at this summer's under-21 Euros Bayern ought to consider moving for in this summer's transfer market.

Max Meyer

Martin Meissner/Associated Press

Perhaps the best place to look for talent is at home, and among the German team, the biggest talent is Max Meyer. The Schalke man hasn't quite shown the extent of his abilities in the Czech Republic, perhaps understandably given that at 19, he's playing among some who are nearly four years his senior.

Meyer had a difficult 2014-15 season in Gelsenkirchen, as he seemed not to fit well in Roberto Di Matteo's plans. And although the Italian trainer has since left the Veltins-Arena, Meyer could well desire a change of scenery. He left his future open in a recent interview with Bild (in German), saying he'll wait until after the tournament to think about his future.

Although Meyer has a contract that runs until 2018, Schalke would apparently be unable to stop him from leaving if another club were to bid €25.5 million, which, according to Bild, is the amount of his release clause.

A silky-smooth dribbler who was named the Golden Player at the 2012 U17 European Championship, according to the FIFA website, Meyer could be the playmaker Bayern have longed for as a long-term successor to Franck Ribery. As they've learned in the case of the struggling Mario Gotze, a club can never have too many options.

William Carvalho

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In January, Bayern managed to land a player who would become one of the U21 Euros' best holding midfielders: Joshua Kimmich. The 20-year-old was a surprise inclusion in Horst Hrubesch's lineup after the benching of Moritz Leitner, the Stuttgart academy graduate being selected ahead of Johannes Geis despite never playing a single Bundesliga match prior to the tournament.

Kimmich is still very young, though, and quite raw. If Bayern want alternative options, the 19-year-old Pierre Hojbjerg and 18-year-old Gianluca Gaudino are rising talents in their midfield, and William Carvalho is another great option. The Portuguese enforcer is more developed, now 23 years of age, and an absolute stalwart in the center of the park.

The Sporting midfielder has tremendous physical strength that makes him a terror in the challenge and allows him to hold off anyone who might challenge for the ball. If Pep Guardiola has any intention of bringing back the strength and solidity in midfield that Javi Martinez and Bastian Schweinsteiger had in 2012-13, Carvalho would be a great long-term solution.

On Saturday, Carvalho shut down Kimmich and Germany as Portugal hammered the junior Mannschaft 5-0. And if Portugal turn out winners in the Czech Republic, they'll have Carvalho to thank for keeping things tidy in midfield. It would appear he's as ready as any for the big stage. 

Domenico Berardi

Marco Vasini/Associated Press

Italy may have been eliminated in the group stage of the U21 Euros, but Domenico Berardi is nonetheless a brilliant talent who would fill a need in the Bayern team as right-winger Arjen Robben approaches the latter stages of his career. The Dutchman is a brilliant, direct player who can score and create goals using his lightning-quick pace, soft touch on the dribble and precise finishing. But as he approaches his 32nd birthday, Berardi is a good option to have to carry the torch when the time comes.

The 20-year-old Berardi had a fantastic season at Sassuolo during the last campaign, scoring 15 goals and assisting 11 more in Serie A. He may have a bit of a temper, having been booked 13 times and sent off once as well, but his productivity more than makes up for it: Just ask Milan, who fell 3-2 to Sassuolo in May thanks to a Berardi hat-trick.

If Bayern are looking for a right-winger with pace, dribbling ability and a strong finish, Berardi may well be their man. He's not yet on Robben's level, but at 20, he still has plenty of room to grow. And although he just recently signed a four-year deal with Sassuolo, Bayern would be wise to keep tabs on him at the very least.

Bernardo Silva

Lionel Cironneau/Associated Press

If Carvalho isn't the exact type of central midfielder that suits Bayern, another good option would be his Portuguese compatriot Bernardo Silva. The 20-year-old has had a brilliant U21 Euro campaign, and it was his goal that put Portugal on course for their drubbing of Germany on Saturday.

Silva is a very versatile player, the type that Pep Guardiola prefers in his team. He can play on the right wing and also as a central midfielder, both behind a main striker and in a deeper role.

He has a soft touch and diminutive stature that make him very agile. The combination is perfect for dribbling, and he has the vision and skill to weave through midfield both with quick, short-ranged passes and with the ball at his feet. Accordingly, he's drawn comparisons with Barcelona star Ivan Rakitic.

Given that he signed with Monaco on a full transfer in January, it may be hard for Bayern to force a transfer. But it might be worth a try. He certainly has shown in recent weeks that the sky is the limit.