Lucas Hernandez, Bayern Munich Agree to 5-Year Contract After Atletico Stint

Lucas Hernandez will swap Atletico Madrid for Bayern Munich this summer after the Bundesliga club announced the agreement of a five-year contract with the France international on Wednesday:

The 23-year-old is thought to have cost Bayern as much as £68 million:

It means Bayern have broken a club record to sign a full-back, albeit a gifted one who already boasts trophy-winning pedigree at both club and international level.

Hernandez helped France win the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia last summer. He'd already lifted the UEFA Europa League with Atleti in May the same year.

The Frenchman is excited to start his journey with another European superpower, but Bayern have already identified a potential fitness issue, according to Goal's Ronan Murphy:

A versatile defender, Hernandez is able to operate at both left-back and centre-back. His imminent arrival will not only lend Die Roten more flexibility at the back, but it will also likely fuel further speculation about the future of David Alaba.

The Austria international also plays left-back and can slot into the middle if needed. Yet Alaba recently admitted he could ply his trade elsewhere, per Bild (h/t Jeorge Bird of MailOnline): "I'm happy in Munich but of course I can imagine seeing something else [in the future]."

Alaba named La Liga giants Barcelona as a possible destination, and France Football (h/t Sport) has reported the Blaugrana are considering the 26-year-old.

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Bayern might be prepared to cut ties if it means recouping some of the outlay dedicated toward signing Hernandez.

The club is refreshing its ranks at the back at a necessary time. Juan Bernat joined Paris Saint-Germain in the summer, while Rafinha is 33. Options are thin at full-back, while Mats Hummels and Jerome Boateng have arguably seen their best days in the middle.

The central theme of Bayern's defensive reshuffle is to acquire the best French talent. Hernandez's international teammate, Benjamin Pavard, is also on his way to the AllianzArena this summer.

While Bayern renovate the back four, Atletico continue to turn healthy profits for players. Hernandez has been on the books since he was 11, and his departure may not be the only notable exit the Madrid club sanctions:

Atletico have developed a knack for replacing key players, and manager Diego Simeone now has the makings of an impressive war chest ahead of the summer window.