The center of defence remains one of the biggest construction sites at FC Bayern. The unresolved future of Dayot Upamecano in particular continues to cause uncertainty at Säbener Straße. The French international is keeping the record champions waiting for a contract decision – and it is precisely this impasse that is apparently forcing the sporting management to look closely at alternatives. According to the latest reports, head coach Vincent Kompany has long had a Plan B in the back of his mind
As the British portal TEAMtalk reports, a prominent name is moving into Munich’s focus: Manchester City’s John Stones. The England international is only under contract with the Citizens until the end of the season and could leave the club on a free transfer in the summer. A constellation that is traditionally closely monitored at FC Bayern – especially when sporting quality goes hand in hand with international experience
Kompany knows Stones – and appreciates his versatility
A decisive factor here is the connection to Vincent Kompany. The Bayern coach knows Stones well from their time together at Manchester City. According to TEAMtalk, Kompany is said to be considering the 31-year-old as a serious option for next summer. Stones himself could also well imagine a move to Munich – not least because of the prospect of working with Harry Kane again, whom he knows well from the England national team
Despite his current role at City, Stones is undisputed in sporting terms. Although the defender has mostly only been used as a rotational player under Pep Guardiola this season and has made 13 competitive appearances so far, his qualities are well-known. Ball security, build-up play, tactical flexibility and experience at the highest level continue to make him a sought-after profile. In addition, Stones can not only be used in the center of defence, but also as a right-back – an aspect that is particularly interesting in the FC Bayern squad in view of recurring absences
Many options on the market – decision depends on Upamecano
According to information from TEAMtalk, the Englishman’s advisors are already sounding out the market intensively. AC Milan, SSC Napoli, Como and Atlético Madrid, among others, are said to have already made contact with the player. Interested parties from Saudi Arabia and the USA are also mentioned. Although remaining at Manchester City is not ruled out, it is not currently the preferred option for the player, who is apparently looking for a new sporting challenge
At FC Bayern, on the other hand, a lot depends on Dayot Upamecano – and Minjae Kim. If it becomes clear that Upamecano will not extend his contract or leave the club in the summer, Munich will have to react. In this scenario, a defender with international experience like Stones, who is available on a free transfer, could be a pragmatic solution to bring stability and leadership quality to the defence
At the same time, one thing is clear: at almost 32 years of age, John Stones would not be a long-term solution for FC Bayern’s defensive center. Rather, he would be an interim solution at top level who could help Kompany immediately without taking a high financial risk. It is precisely profiles like this that currently fit in with the strategic thinking of Bayern’s management, who are increasingly focusing on targeted reinforcements rather than expensive experiments
Whether a concrete move will actually be made in the summer remains to be seen.