The goalkeeper issue at FC Bayern is coming to a head. Manuel Neuer’s contract is coming to an end, there is no clear successor in sight – and now an expert has come up with a surprising theory
Who will succeed Manuel Neuer? This question has been on FC Bayern’s mind for months and is still unanswered. The 39-year-old’s contract expires at the end of the season and a decision on his future is still pending. Neuer himself avoids making clear statements and repeatedly emphasises that his future career path will largely depend on his physical condition. It is precisely this uncertainty that is forcing Bayern to consider several scenarios in parallel
The Munich club currently has two potential successors in its own squad, Jonas Urbig and Alexander Nübel. Urbig, who is only 22 years old, is regarded internally as a beacon of hope and has already hinted at his potential during his appearances
Nübel, on the other hand, continues to gain valuable match experience at a high level at VfB Stuttgart and knows the Bayern environment very well. Nevertheless, the question of whether one of the two can really follow in Neuer’s gigantic footsteps does not seem to have been conclusively answered
Kneißl doubts internal solutions
DAZN expert Sebastian Kneißl is now adding fuel to the fire of the debate. In his view, it is by no means certain that the next Bayern regular goalkeeper is already under contract. „Manuel Neuer’s successor is not yet on Bayern’s payroll,“ Kneißl explained, bringing an external solution into play
His reasoning is clear: a club with the ambitions of FC Bayern needs a goalkeeper of the best age who has already proven at the highest level that he can deal with pressure, expectations and Champions League evenings. „They need someone who is 27, 28 and has Champions League experience,“ Kneißl continued. Neither Urbig nor Nübel currently fully meet this profile
This assessment is in line with the reality of the upheaval that Bayern have to overcome in several positions at the same time. The goalkeeper position is particularly sensitive. Neuer has been indispensable for more than a decade, not only in sporting terms, but also as a leading player and symbolic figure. His successor will inevitably be measured against him – a risk that the club is weighing up very carefully
Decision with a signal effect
If Bayern were to make an external move, it would send out a clear signal. On the one hand, it would show that they believe Urbig has long-term prospects, but do not want to immediately force him into the role of undisputed regular keeper. On the other hand, an experienced newcomer could moderate the transition and give the young goalkeeper time to develop
At the same time, such a decision would also point the finger in the direction of Alexander Nübel. The 28-year-old is emblematic of the difficulty of building a long-term successor to Neuer. Despite loan spells and solid performances, the feeling has not yet arisen that he can become the undisputed number one in Munich
One thing is clear: Bayern will not be rushing into anything. The goalkeeping issue is closely linked to Neuer’s personal decision. If the captain extends his contract once again, the debate will be postponed. If he hangs up his gloves, a solution will have to be found – and one that works immediately.