The Bayern Insider: Anthony Gordon move amid major transfer updates on Barcola, Havertz & Neuer

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The Bayern Insider: Anthony Gordon move amid major transfer updates on Barcola, Havertz & Neuer

Welcome to today’s exclusive & comprehensive round-up of all things Bayern Munich from Bayern insider Christian Falk. Featuring updates on Bradley Barcola, Kai Havertz, Konrad Laimer, and Anthony Gordon.

Today’s top stories​

• Have Bayern arranged a pre-agreement with Anthony Gordon?
• Could the Bundesliga champions go big for Bradley Barcola summer?
• What does the future hold for Alphonso Davies and Konrad Laimer
• And plenty more on Kennet Eichhorn, Dušan Vlahović, Tornike Kvaratskhelia & Manuel Neuer.

It’s true that Bayern Munich probably weren’t good enough on the night to deserve to progress through to the Champions League final. However, it can also be true that their opponents, PSG, had luck on their side with the somewhat dubious officiating decisions at the Allianz Arena. I talked with the Bayern bosses after the match and they were really surprised that this Portuguese referee, João Pinheiro, was chosen by UEFA for this match. He has no prior experience in a semi-final, no experience in a quarter-final, and he’s Portuguese. Many players and bosses at PSG hail from Portugal. Officials at FC Bayern were not really confident in this referee. Also, Vincent Kompany, who’s normally a quiet guy when you’re talking about the referee, said that he didn’t know why Bayern didn’t get a penalty. In the first leg, PSG got a penalty, and then nothing in the second leg.

Of course, it’s true Bayern Munich didn’t have the best day. Michael Olise didn’t have a great game, Jamal Musiala is not yet in the shape you’d like to see (but he is coming back from a serious injury), and Serge Gnabry is missing due to injury. Manuel Neuer was the shining light in this Bayern team on the night. However, just one good Neuer is not enough to get past PSG. So, all in all, Paris makes it through to Budapest.

Anthony Gordon contract offer​

It is TRUE: Bayern have offered Anthony Gordon a five-year contract pending an agreement on a transfer fee with Newcastle. In Germany, it’s not possible to give players more than five years on a deal (like you can freely do in the Premier League). Bayern Munich know they’ll have to pay a really big transfer fee for Anthony Gordon, so it’s best to spread it over the course of a long-term contract. So, this is what they’re offering Gordon, and also to ensure that they would be able to keep hold of the Englishman for the foreseeable future.

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There are talks with the player, as we’ve exclusively revealed on CF Bayern Insider. The agent from England was also already in Munich. You know, he has a German agent too, in Gordon Stipic-Wipfler. Now, the eyes are on Monday, at which point the supervisory board get together for a conference, where Max Eberl will discuss his plans for the summer. I heard they want to go all-in for an offensive player, and Anthony Gordon is at the top of the wishlist. But the transfer fee remains a problem. If we’re looking at £80m – that’s a lot of money for Bayern Munich.

A few weeks ago, I would have said a deal of this magnitude isn’t possible. Now, I think the view of the supervisory board is shaped by the clear need for another forward player. PSG had Bradley Barcola on the bench. Bayern didn’t have the same level of quality depth available to call upon. Lennart Karl is still recovering from injury and is a young talent. Nicolas Jackson doesn’t have the quality Bayern are looking for (and they won’t buy him). So, they need one more player to bolster their attacking options, and this should be Anthony Gordon.

Could Barcelona try and hijack Gordon transfer?​

It could be true that Barcelona would like to sign Anthony Gordon. The agents are making a lot of calls, a lot of meetings, around Europe. There was a meeting with Chelsea, contact with Liverpool, contact with Arsenal… they’re allowed to do that, as they know Newcastle need the money this summer to keep on the right side of Financial Fair Play. Barcelona were offered the player, but they can’t afford the kind of transfer fee we’ve been talking about. Bayern, on the other hand, could pay this if they wish to. So it’s getting interesting to see who’s joining the poker table. I’m personally more afraid of Chelsea, as they have the resources to make a deal happen. Not to mention, they could use Nicolas Jackson as a makeweight in a potential swap deal (and we know Newcastle are interested in the Senegal international). But, I think Bayern Munich still have a good chance to get this deal done, as they were very early on the market for Gordon. They can also rely on fellow England international Harry Kane to tell the 25-year-old just how good life in Munich is!

Bayern reportedly interested in Arsenal’s Kai Havertz​

It is NOT TRUE: Bayern have added Kai Havertz to their shortlist ahead of the summer. I heard the rumours a few weeks ago and checked up on it. There were no talks, no negotiations. Havertz is already thinking about next season with Arsenal. I think he would like to play for Bayern Munich in the future, but at the moment, his name wasn’t discussed by the supervisory board. He’s not, at present, on Bayern’s summer shortlist.

Manuel Neuer contract talks are escalating​

It is TRUE: Manuel Neuer is firmly in talks with Bayern over signing a one-year extension. His agent was already at Säbener Straße for negotiations. Christoph Freund, the sporting director, was confirming this. Now, there are very positive signs coming out of the club that Neuer will sign a new contract. I met him after the match, and he, of course, wasn’t in the right mood to discuss his contract. However, he didn’t give me the impression that this would be his final Champions League match. You saw it in his eyes and the way he talked about the semi-final exit – this wouldn’t be his final comments about Bayern in the Champions League. So, I’m very sure that we’ll see the 40-year-old back on the pitch for FC Bayern for one more year. Perhaps even a door will open for the World Cup as well.


The Bundestrainer, Julian Nagelsmann, made his nomination a little later than usual, so he could take a closer look at one or two players more this season. So, perhaps, there’s a small chance that Manuel Neuer will join up with Germany for the World Cup.

Alphonso Davies wants to stay put at Bayern Munich​

It is NOT TRUE: Alphonso Davies wants to secure a transfer away from Bayern Munich this summer. Of course, FC Bayern know that the Canadian has been struggling with injuries this term. So, there was a viewpoint that if the club were to receive a big offer for the left-back, they would have seriously discussed it. But I think recent matches have shown just how much Bayern need Davies. I had talks today about the 25-year-old’s situation, and it’s not the case that the club feels he’s not the best option at left-back anymore. The key concern is his fitness levels, and you can see Bayern would benefit from Alphonso Davies being available on a more consistent basis. That much was certainly clear while he was sidelined in the treatment room.

I think Vincent Kompany will do everything to keep this player and get him fit again. If they want to win the Champions League – they need Alphonso Davies. So, I would say there’s no chance at the moment for an interested party to sign him.

Bayern will be firm with Konrad Laimer’s wage demands​

Bayern Munich have drawn a line in the sand over Konrad Laimer’s contract demands. They’ve already paid a lot of money for Musiala, Davies, and Joshua Kimmich’s contract. They made him an improved offer on his current contract. It’s said that the Austrian is earning €8m-9m a year (gross). He wants more than €15m, which is the point where Bayern will simply say, “No – we won’t negotiate around this figure”. Then he would have to leave. However, Bayern’s reasoning is that, because Laimer came in on a free from RB Leipzig, if they have to lose him on a free in 2027 (when he turns 29), that wouldn’t be such a big problem. So, they’re happy to run down his contract for another season.

Uli Hoeneß, the godfather of Bayern Munich, who sits on the supervisory board, said that he likes Konrad Laimer. But he made it clear that the auxiliary right-back has to believe that he’s not Diego Maradona, and so a wage demand of this amount is quite a lot! If he were more heavily involved in Bayern’s successes in the Champions League and had personally steered the club to the final in Budapest, perhaps he’d have an argument to the contrary. But at the moment, there’s no chance Laimer will be signing a new deal for the amount he’s looking for.

Do Bayern have the advantage in the race for Kennet Eichhorn?​

It is NOT TRUE: Bayern are leading the race to sign Kennet Eichhorn. Other clubs are closer to this deal. In February, there was already a meeting with Borussia Dortmund, where they tried to secure this big talent. I think RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt are also in front, as they can offer more playing time. Bayern Munich are bringing Noël Aséko back to play in this position and can also call on Tom Bischof. Then there’s Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlović. So, you can see how it starts to look hard for Eichhorn to get regular playing time in Munich! This could be a big argument for the teenager to look elsewhere. And don’t forget that there are still English clubs who would like to sign him. So, at the moment, Bayern are still fighting for this big talent, but they’re not in the driver’s seat.

Bayern tracking Premier League-linked Mika Godts?​

It is TRUE: Bayern are watching Mika Godts. However, he hasn’t broken into the top three offensive options FC Bayern are actively discussing. The Belgian could, of course, still be an option to enlarge the squad.

Might Bayern consider Bradley Barcola as a left-wing solution?​

I made a few calls about Bradley Barcola, and I heard he’s not considered unsellable at PSG. However, you would have to come to the table with €100m [£86.4m]. So, this is hard for Bayern! It’s more than what they’d have to pay for Anthony Gordon. It would be an interesting option for Bayern Munich – but it’s hard to commit to at this price.

Dušan Vlahović back on Bayern’s radar?​

It is NOT TRUE: Dušan Vlahović is on Bayern’s radar. Bayern think he’s too expensive an option to pursue at this point in time. The salary would be a big topic in the team if they were to sign him. So he’s not on the shortlist of three players discussed inside the club. There’s still a hope around Yan Diomande at Bayern, but he would also cost a lot of money. So, Bayern still have their Plan A in Anthony Gordon.

Are Bayern tracking Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s younger brother?​

It is NOT TRUE: Tornike Kvaratskhelia travelled to Munich for talks with Bayern officials. I checked this detail and it’s not true – it’s not confirmed! Bayern Munich and Khvicha’s younger brother have yet to have any contact. I don’t know where this rumour is coming from but everyone I spoke to said there hasn’t been a meeting.

The future looks bright for Bara Ndiaye​

It is TRUE: Bayern Munich have a hope that Bara Ndiaye could be another play they count on for the squad next season. This could help in situations as we’ve seen in the semi-final against PSG when the club is already dealing with an injury list. He’s not allowed to play for the second team at Bayern Munich – just the first! So if they’ve signed him, they clearly think he has the potential and quality to play there. You don’t know how far it will go, of course.

This World Squad Bayern Munich are directly connected to is proving quite fruitful. It’s the second player where Bayern have the hope they’ve found a gem. They’ll count on Ndiaye, but that’s a reason for not signing other players in this position.

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