Rumour: Bayern in talks with Frankfurt sporting CEO Markus Krösche
| Markus Krösche of Eintracht Frankfurt. | Selim Sudheimer/Getty Images |
Speaking in an exclusive interview with sport.de, Mario Basler reiterated an earlier report suggesting that the Bundesliga giants are looking to bring in Krösche as a potential replacement or alternative to current Bayern board member for sport, Max Eberl.
“I've said it before: they are very interested, and I believe Markus Krösche will join FC Bayern for the new season, and I stand by that,” Basler stated. “From what I know, the talks are already quite far along.”
Krösche has been Frankfurt’s sporting CEO since 2021 and has overseen a period of considerable success. Under his leadership, the club won the UEFA Europa League in 2022, reached the DFB-Pokal final in 2023, advanced to the Champions League Round of 16, and secured third place in the Bundesliga last season, earning a return to Europe’s top competition.
Off the pitch, Krösche has drawn praise for his strategic player recruitment. Among his most notable moves were the free signings of Randal Kolo Muani and Omar Marmoush, deals that Basler described as “calm and calculated.”
In contrast, Max Eberl has faced growing criticism at Bayern, with some questioning his effectiveness in the transfer market. According to Basler, failed transfer attempts have piled pressure on the former RB Leipzig executive.
“You can’t really blame Max for the difficult market conditions,” Basler admitted. “But the problem is that the last five transfers they tried to complete all fell through. None of them worked.”
The 1996 European champion continued: “Being in charge at Bayern isn’t easy. Max is being judged by the players he lets go. He needs to cut salaries, which is tough, especially because most of these players don’t want to leave. They know they won’t get the same wages anywhere else.”
Basler also cast doubt on the public support shown by the Bayern hierarchy toward Eberl, suggesting that such statements are more performative than genuine.
“When Herbert Hainer says they fully back Max Eberl, of course, he has to say that,” Basler commented.
One of the major issues at Bayern, according to Basler, is the frequent leaking of internal transfer information.
“At Bayern right now, every potential transfer gets leaked to the media, for whatever reason,” he said. “And once that happens, every failed deal becomes public too.”
As speculation around Krösche intensifies, it remains to be seen whether Bayern will make a formal move or if these talks are simply part of a broader search for strategic clarity in a turbulent summer for the record champions.
