A solution for Bryan Zaragoza could be on the horizon at FC Bayern as the transfer window nears its close. Espanyol Barcelona is stepping up its efforts to sign the 24-year-old and wants to bring the winger back to Spain. However, there is still a major hurdle regarding the proposed transfer structure.
Time is running out for FC Bayern. The Munich club is desperate to offload Zaragoza this summer. From a sporting perspective, the Spaniard no longer plays a role in Vincent Kompany’s plans.
Sporting director Max Eberl had already made it clear publicly that Zaragoza is free to leave the club. Along with João Palhinha and Sacha Boey, the offensive player was among the record champion’s most prominent candidates for a sale.
Now, it appears there is movement on the situation. As reported by the Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo, Espanyol Barcelona is working intensively to sign Zaragoza.
Espanyol wants to sign Zaragoza on loan
Strengthening the attacking wings is currently a top priority for the Catalan club. Zaragoza is said to be at the very top of their wish list and is currently even the favorite for this position.
However, there’s a catch: According to the report, Espanyol is initially seeking a loan deal. In addition, the Spanish club is hoping that Bayern Munich will cover part of the 24-year-old’s salary.
So far, the two clubs’ positions have differed significantly. Bayern would still prefer to sell Zaragoza outright and thus close this chapter once and for all.
The winger is under contract in Munich through 2029. After being signed by FC Granada for around 15 million euros in early 2024, he was never able to establish himself on a long-term basis with the German record champions.
Several loan spells have also failed to bring the hoped-for breakthrough so far. Last season, Zaragoza played first for Celta Vigo and then for AS Roma.
Sevilla is also back in the running
However, Espanyol isn’t the only La Liga club interested in Zaragoza. Sevilla FC is also said to have intensified its efforts again.
Recently, the Andalusian club’s interest had cooled somewhat. However, with the impending sale of Rubén Vargas for around twelve million euros, Sevilla could now gain new financial leeway.
This sets the stage for a Spanish showdown over the Bayern Munich player. For Munich, this is generally good news: The more clubs that are seriously pursuing Zaragoza, the greater the chances of finding a solution before Deadline Day.
The decisive factor, however, will be whether Espanyol or Sevilla is willing to meet Bayern’s transfer terms. After several loan spells, the record champions would like to remove Zaragoza from their payroll for good and therefore continue to prefer a permanent transfer.