A Fantasy XI of Players Linked with Bayern Munich in the Past 12 Months
Bayern Munich are one of football's richest and most attractive clubs, so it's no surprise that they are constantly linked with some of the biggest names in the world game.
International media has been rife with reports linking the Bavarian giants to superstars over the last year; if they were to sign all the players to whom they've been linked, they'd have quite a stellar lineup.
B/R has looked through all the transfer narratives over the last year and assembled a starting lineup made of the best players to whom Bayern have been linked, arranged in a variation of the 3-5-2 formation.
Click "Begin Slideshow" to start with the goalkeeper, followed by defenders, midfielders and forwards.
Goalkeeper: Sven Ulreich
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The list begins with an exception in the goalkeeping position. Bayern weren't actually linked with any goalkeepers among serious media sources in 2015. They did, however, manage to sign a backup for Manuel Neuer out of the blue, Sven Ulreich.
The 26-year-old left his starting role at Stuttgart to serve as Neuer's understudy, a sacrifice of playing time in exchange for the chance to be more competitive for titles.
For Bayern, he's a solid and experienced backup. And even if he doesn't play, he can appreciate the paycheck and prestige he enjoys at the Allianz Arena.
Center-Back: Matteo Darmian
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Bayern were linked with few defenders over the last year, and as a result, natural right-back Matteo Darmian has to fill in at center-back.
The Bavarians entered the race to sign the Italian defender in June, according to SportMediaset (h/t TalkSport), and SportBild (h/t Goal) recently reported that Pep Guardiola wanted either Darmian or Danilo as a signing over the last summer.
With Philipp Lahm aged 32 and Rafinha also 30, Bayern will eventually need more options to play on the right of defense. Darmian could have fit the bill, but he was signed by Manchester United instead.
Center-Back: Kostas Manolas
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In 2014, Bayern Munich signed a center-back from Roma: Mehdi Benatia. Now, it seems they may be interested in signing another interior defender from the Gialorossi: Kostas Manolas.
In December, German source TZ picked up a report from Transfermarktweb that alleged Bayern were willing to let Benatia (who has never quite settled in at the Allianz Arena and has often been injured) return to Rome in exchange for Manolas.
The Greek defender has made a name for himself at Roma and is now a coveted player on the transfer market. If Benatia has to go, the 24-year-old is a quality replacement
Center-Back: Arturo Vidal
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As with Ulreich, Arturo Vidal is a player Bayern were not only linked with, but managed to sign.
The Chile international's performances have been mixed, with some moments of magic and other spells in which he has left much to be desired.
Still, Vidal joined Bayern as a player who'd helped Juventus reach the Champions League final last season. His skill set is outstanding both in extent and diversity: There are few things in central midfield he can't do, and he even has the ability to play in defense (which is why he is included in that role in this team).
Vidal still has something to prove to the Bayern fans, but the skill is certainly there.
Defensive Midfielder: Granit Xhaka
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One of the few recent rumors in this lineup is that regarding Granit Xhaka. The Switzerland international was reported in Kosovan source Telegrafi (h/t ESPN's Stephan Uersfeld) to have agreed to join Bayern in May, but he was not sold.
Still, in December, Bild rekindled the Xhaka-to-Bayern narrative, claiming Bayern still thought of him as a long-term successor to Xabi Alonso.
The question is, will Bayern wait until 2017 when his €30 million release clause takes effect? Or will they make a bigger offer this summer in order to try to land him earlier?
Xhaka has experienced an outstanding development as of late and is now one of the Bundesliga's finest central midfielders. Although he is a bit too aggressive at times, he has the spirit of a leader and would benefit most any team with his balanced range of skills.
Central Midfielder: Toni Kroos
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Just days before the new year, Gazzetta World published a report claiming that, among other players, Carlo Ancelotti was keen to bring Toni Kroos back to the Allianz Arena.
If Bayern were to re-sign Kroos, he'd cost a pretty penny. But in the eyes of many fans, it would be undoing a previous mistake the club had made in letting him leave for Real Madrid.
Having just turned 26 years of age, the Germany international still has his best years ahead of him. And given that he's currently being used in a role to break up play that doesn't suit him, he may be keen to return to Munich.
Central Midfielder: Angel Di Maria
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Although Angel Di Maria seems quite settled at Paris Saint-Germain now, he was in a very different situation at Manchester United at the end of last season.
Benched by Louis van Gaal, the Argentine soon became a hot name on the transfer market. Kicker (in German) reported in May that Bayern made an inquiry about his availability.
Di Maria was an expensive option, but Bayern were willing even to offer Mario Gotze as a bargaining chip (according to SportBild reporter Christian Falk), but perhaps due to the Bavarians' unwillingness to sell Thomas Muller, United declined.
Di Maria moved to PSG, and Bayern turned their attention elsewhere.
Right-Winger: Gareth Bale
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Perhaps the most exciting—and certainly the most expensive—link that the recent Gazzetta World report made was that Ancelotti is keen to bring Gareth Bale to Munich.
The Welshman has had his ups and downs at Real Madrid, and he could perhaps be available this summer should the right offer be tabled.
He would come at an extremely high price, though, with Real having spent (according to Transfermarkt) €94 million to sign him from Tottenham Hotspur.
Still just 26 years of age, though, Bale has many years of quality football left in him and could bring phenomenal pace and shooting ability to the Bayern attack.
Left-Winger: Douglas Costa
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There were many other big stars who could have been listed on the flank, but at this point, Douglas Costa appears to have made up any gap there and become well worth his use in the left-wing position.
The Brazilian was an underachiever at Shakhtar Donetsk before moving to Bayern over the summer. Then he exploded into form and proved his class again and again in the first round of the current season.
With 14 assists and five goals in 20 appearances, he is one of the world's very best attacking players at the moment.
Supporting Striker: Antoine Griezmann
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Antoine Griezmann's profile has risen and risen over recent years, the Frenchman having made a name for himself at Real Sociedad before joining Atletico Madrid in 2014.
Per Transfermarkt, he's appreciated in value to €50 million since his €30 million transfer to Atleti, his versatility as a scorer and provider inspiring the Spanish side to remain a constant power near the top of La Liga's hierarchy.
According to the Guardian's Gerard Meagher, Bayern were keen to make a move for Griezmann before he joined Atleti in 2014. And again he was considered as a target last summer, with SportBild (in German) reporting that Bayern were considering activating his €60 million release clause.
In the end, Bayern signed Douglas Costa instead and have fared quite well.
Center Forward: Paulo Dybala
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The previously cited Gazzetta World article also claims Ancelotti would like to bring in Paulo Dybala from Juventus.
The Argentine forward would allegedly be, along with Gonzalo Higuain and Lorenzo Insigne, considered an option if Robert Lewandowski were to leave the club this summer.
Dybala is the best among the possible options, the 22-year-old having emerged as a key player at Juventus this season after establishing himself as a star at Palermo in the previous campaign.
He has eight goals in 16 Serie A appearances in 2015-16, and his strike rate looks sure to go up in the coming years as he develops further.
