Bayern Munich Transfer News: James Rodriguez Decision Made Amid EPL Rumours

Bayern Munich have reportedly already made a final decision on James Rodriguez and will trigger a clause that will make his loan move permanent.

According to Marca's Jose Felix Diaz, the option is worth just €42 million, making him a bargain for the German champions. The 2014 FIFA World Cup hero has been a smash hit at the Allianz Arena, so the news shouldn't come as a surprise.

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Diaz said the Bavarians plan on triggering the option this summer, even though the loan deal is for two years. It's added Rodriguez has agreed to the move and is studying German in an attempt to get more comfortable in the Bundesliga.

According to The Sun's Alec Shilton and Andrea Martinez, Rodriguez made it clear he sees his future in Bavaria when speaking after Colombia's international friendly with Australia on March 27.

News of his happiness may disappoint some Premier League clubs, as The Sun said Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United held an interest in the player before his loan switch to Bayern.

El Gol Digital (h/t the Mirror) even reported in February that Rodriguez wanted to cut his loan deal short and move to Anfield in the summer. 

Here's a look at some of his highlights from the past year:

The 26-year-old moved to Germany after a rough spell with Real and struggled in his first months in the Bundesliga. A positional switch to a central-midfield role unlocked his potential, however, and he's been a regular in the team since.

In Madrid, Rodriguez enjoyed a spectacular first season, but a serious injury saw him drop out of the squad, and he never recovered. Regular playing time was the biggest issue, and the Colombian often tried to do too much when he did get his chance.

Minutes on the pitch have been available in Germany, and Rodriguez has thrived. He starred in the 6-0 win over Borussia Dortmund, per Squawka Football:

It's easy to see why Rodriguez is happy in Germany. For the first time in years, he's backed by his manager and playing on a weekly basis―those are things he would be unlikely to risk with a move, knowing how things played out in Madrid.

Whether Bayern can and will trigger the clause in the summer remains a question mark, though. As noted by Diaz, they're paying Real a set fee for the loan, so it would make more sense to just continue the loan for another year before committing to a permanent transfer.

Too many things could happen in the 2018-19 campaign―Rodriguez could get injured or fall out with the manager or his team-mates―to risk paying €42 million when they can secure his services for another full season for the fraction of that and make a decision later.