Bayern personnel updates: FCB look to re-sign Choupo-Moting, Real's Lucas Vazquez targeted on a free
Reports surfacing on Wednesday gave some insight into FC Bayern München's rough plans for the off-season. Germany's Bild Zeitung reports that the German giants are actually satisfied with Robert Lewandowski's backup.
When it comes to additional help on the wings, Spanish sporting daily AS Diaro notes that Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez appears to be a target.
Eric-Maxim Choupo-Moting hasn't exactly functioned as a firework since Bayern signed him on a free last autumn. To be fair, the back-up to Robert Lewandowski doesn't necessarily have to be one. Choupo-Moting has essentially done his job with one league goal and four combined tallies in the DFB-Pokal and UEFA Champions League.
When it comes to additional help on the wings, Spanish sporting daily AS Diaro notes that Real Madrid's Lucas Vazquez appears to be a target.
"Choupo has it harder than others [behind] world-class competitors like Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski," Flick confided in an interview with Bild, "he nevertheless does his job very well, especially in training. We're happy to have him."
The 32-year-old Cameroonian is evidently also a valuable presence in the dressing room. A former player for Schalke, Stoke City, and Paris St. Germain, Choupo-Moting brings with him fluency in German, French, and English.
For these reason, Bayern evidently wish to extend his contracts. SportBild reports that he's been offered a €2 million base salary with bonuses to re-up for the 2021/22 campaign.
The same cannot be said about Douglas Costa, a Juventus loanee widely considered as a flop this year and whom has expressed a desire to return to the Serie A once his current loan arrangement is over.
With the German giants clearly in the market for an extra winger this summer, Spanish sporting daily AS Diaro reports that the FCB have expressed interest in 29-year-old former Spanish international Lucas Vazquez. All major German media sources confirm the rumor.
The AS article describes the state of negotiations as "very advanced". After six seasons with the Spanish Royals, the reliable veteran winger is reportedly dissatisfied with his club's current renewal offer. The time appears right for Bayern to snatch him up on a free.
After spending a confirmed €42.5 million to bring Dayot Upamecano in over the summer, it's safe to assume that the FCB have no more cash flashes to make in the summer transfer market. Even a club as large as the Bavarians must reckon with revenue shortfalls resulting from the pandemic.
Both a modest re-upping for Choupo-Moting and a reasonably structured contract for Vazquez therefore count as practical moves.