Three destinations for Leon Goretzka should the midfielder leave Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich have been in blistering form throughout the first half of the 2025/26 season. The Bavarians have stormed to the summit of the Bundesliga, winning 13 of their opening 15 games without picking up a single defeat to build a nine-point lead over Borussia Dortmund in the German top flight. Much of that success has been built on the back of the goals of Harry Kane, with the England captain netting 19 times in just 13 league starts to put his side on the brink of a second straight Meisterschale. 

With such a huge lead already built in the title race, it's no surprise that online betting sites make Bayern the clear favorites to claim the Bundesliga once again this term. One can bet on sports at Bovada, and the betting giant currently lists the table toppers as a whopping 1/200 shot to reign supreme this season, with their nearest betting rival being Borussia Dortmund, who are way out at 35/1. 

Goretzka Rumours Persist 

But while Kane has been the star of the show at the Allianz Arena, it's a different name that is in the headlines at the moment. That, of course, is wantaway midfielder Leon Goretzka. A rumour that the German international had retired courtesy of his inability to secure a transfer away from Bayern ran rampant on X - formerly known as Twitter - in the opening days of the new year. And while that was ultimately fake news, the 30-year-old is out of contract in the summer, meaning that he can leave Bavaria on a free transfer at the end of the season. 

While Goretzka may well see out his current deal and exit for free post-June 30th, he could also leave in January for a cut price, should Bayern wish to secure some kind of transfer fee for their box-to-box midfielder. And there is no shortage of potential suitors. Here are the three teams thought to be leading the race for Goretzka's signature. 

Barcelona 

The alluring pull of Barcelona remains magnetic. In the summer of 2022, we saw just how much the interest from Catalonia can sway a player's mindset as the Blaugrana seduced Bayern's record scorer, Robert Lewandowski, and secured the Pole's signature. Could Goretzka be the next to swap Bavaria for the Camp Nou? If the rumors are to be believed, it appears so. 

Former Bayern boss Hansi Flick is the man currently in charge in Catalonia, and his stellar relationship with Goretzka is well known. The former national team manager has made no secret of his desire to seal a deal for the former Schalke midfielder, and it seems that he may well get his wish. Outlets such as OneFootball and Sports Illustrated have both reported on Barca making contact with Goretzka in recent weeks, and it seems like Camp Nou is the 30-year-old's first choice when it comes to potential new homes. 

Would Goretzka manage to force his way into the starting 11 in Barcelona? Well, that remains up for debate. The Blaugrana already has a stacked midfield containing the likes of Pedri, Frenkie de Jong, Dani Olmo, Fermín López, and Marc Casadó, while young prodigy Gavi is still to return from injury. For Goretzka, forcing his way into a starting berth from the outset won't be an easy task. 

Arsenal 

Another team reportedly interested in securing a deal for Goretzka is current Premier League table toppers Arsenal. Mikel Arteta has turned the Gunners into a powerhouse over the last three years, and it finally looks as though the North London club's lengthy 22-year wait for an English top-flight title could well come to an end this season. The Emirates outfit is currently five points clear at the Premier League's summit, with the bookies installing them as a favourite to go on and finally claim the title, as well as making them a frontrunner for Champions League glory. 

Much of the blueprint for success under Arteta has been building a team full of physical players who refuse to be bullied. Standing at 6'2 and being an all-round physical specimen, the German midfielder would certainly fit the bill at the Emirates. However, much like at Barcelona, there's no guarantee that Goretzka would be a starter. Arsenal already boasts the likes of Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino, and Christian Nørgaard in midfield, and forcing his way up the pecking order certainly won't be an easy task. 

Napoli 

One place where Goretzka would certainly be appreciated is in Naples. Napoli are the reigning Italian champions, having outlasted Inter Milan in a thrilling title race last term. Manager Antonio Conte has looked to strengthen his side in a bid to retain the Scudetto, signing the experienced Kevin De Bruyne on a free transfer from Manchester City in the summer. Could Goretzka be the next superstar to head to the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona on a cut price? Potentially. 

Unlike in London and Catalonia, there is certainly room for improvement in the Napoli midfield. De Bruyne is becoming more and more injury-prone throughout the twilight of his career, leaving more and more responsibility on the shoulders of reigning Serie A MVP Scott McTominay. Adding Goretzka would certainly take some of the pressure off the Scotsman, potentially galvanizing the champions to mount another assault on the Serie A title.