Manuel Neuer has extended his contract with FC Bayern for another year and is now tied to the record-holding champions through the summer of 2027. After that, Jonas Urbig is expected to take over, according to reports. But how certain is that?
It’s considered a certainty that FC Bayern’s goalkeeping squad for the upcoming season will consist of Neuer, Urbig, and Sven Ulreich. In addition, young goalkeepers are reportedly being developed behind the scenes.
Many experts believe Urbig is capable of taking over from Neuer, and Urbig himself—who will apparently see more playing time in the new season—is eager for the promotion starting in the summer of 2027.
Quite a few even believe that, as things stand, Urbig is already the better goalkeeper.
Bayern is apparently keeping an eye on the market
Despite the current situation, FC Bayern is reportedly actively monitoring the goalkeeper market. According to Portugal’s A Bola, the record champions have their sights set on Lukas Hornicek of Sporting Braga.
The 23-year-old Czech is reportedly one of the candidates on Munich’s internal list for the goalkeeper position. However, he is not expected to be seen as the number one of the future. Bayern’s bosses are planning the goalkeeper lineup of the future well in advance, precisely because they now know that both Neuer and Ulreich have an “expiration date” as Bayern pros.
The goal for FC Bayern could therefore be to have a strong number one, but also a competitive number two on the roster—just as is currently the case with Neuer and Ulreich.
It’s unclear whether Hornicek would be content to sit on the bench permanently and serve as a backup. The price would also be an open question. This summer, it’s quite clear how Braga views a potential transfer: If a team is interested, the release clause of 30 million euros must be activated. For Bayern, however, signing him would likely not be a possibility until the summer of 2027. That’s because a deal involving a purchase followed by a one-year loan-back is currently very unrealistic.