FC Bayern have lost out in the bidding for Anthony Gordon, and the England international’s move to FC Barcelona could come to symbolize a transfer summer in which once again not all of the desired solutions can be realized
The record champions had already decided early on that Gordon was the preferred addition to their attacking options, with Max Eberl and his team holding talks and at times even being considered the favorites to sign the Newcastle star
In the end, however, FC Barcelona prevailed. The Catalans were prepared to go much further financially than Bayern. Internally, the club’s management had set a clear upper limit for the deal – and it was precisely this that Barcelona ultimately exceeded significantly
The record champions withdrew from the negotiations instead of entering into a costly arms race
The alternatives are becoming fewer
The loss of Gordon hits Bayern particularly hard because the choice of top-class alternatives is limited
RB Leipzig star Yan Diomande has also been the subject of intense internal discussion, but a transfer is also currently considered almost impossible. The situation is similar with Givairo Read, who is currently being heavily linked with Manchester City
This threatens to repeat a pattern of recent years, as the Munich club has seen other clubs appear more attractive financially or in sporting terms with players such as Nico Williams, Bradley Barcola and Désiré Doué
The basic problem remains unchanged: the absolute top players on the wing have long been under contract with Europe’s elite clubs
Names such as Raphinha or Khvicha Kvaratskhelia are currently practically unattainable for Bayern, which is why the record champions will inevitably have to make compromises
Established candidates include players such as Rafael Leão and Cody Gakpo, both of whom undoubtedly have quality, but are not considered perfect solutions internally
There are also numerous talents on the lists of top European clubs. Mika Godts, Bazoumana Touré and Alberto Moleiro are regularly linked with bigger clubs, but still need further development
Time becomes the decisive factor
For Max Eberl and Christoph Freund, speed is therefore becoming an important factor. The longer the search for reinforcements drags on, the smaller the selection on the market becomes
At the same time, the pressure from outside is growing. After winning the double, expectations of Bayern are high. Those responsible want to strengthen the squad in a targeted manner without ignoring the financial guidelines of the supervisory board
The failed Gordon transfer already shows how difficult this balancing act can be, so the coming weeks are likely to set the tone for the rest of Munich’s transfer summer.