- Bayern initially resisted cut-price sale
- Coman to sign three-year Al-Nassr deal
- Move leaves Bayern short on wide options
The French international Coman’s departure to Saudi Arabia now appears to be taking shape. After kicker reported that Bayern Munich‘s club management disagreed with the price terms allegedly negotiated by sporting director Max Eberl, the deal is now said to be imminent.
The report claimed there was no final agreement between the German record champions and Cristiano Ronaldo‘s club Al-Nassr. On Thursday morning, however, a new development has emerged. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Bayern officials have approved the sale of Coman. The attacker is expected to travel to Al-Nassr today to finalise the transfer. He will sign a three-year contract, and the transfer fee is reportedly under €30m (£26m/$35m). Initially, these figures did not meet the expectations of the Bayern hierarchy.
Al-Nassr are undoubtedly one of the financially strongest clubs in the world, which is why, according to the report, Bayern’s management hoped to secure significantly more money, especially given that €75 million (£65m/$87m) was paid to Liverpool for Luis Diaz, who is only eight months younger than Coman. Furthermore, the Frenchman was under contract with the Munich team until 2027.
In addition, the squad currently offers few options up front. Following the departures of Leroy Sane to Galatasaray and Thomas Muller to MLS, Coman’s move would leave coach Vincent Kompany with only Serge Gnabry, Michael Olise, Lennart Karl and Díaz available for the two wing positions. Due to injuries to Jamal Musiala, who is unlikely to return until the end of the first half of the season, and youngster Paul Wanner, Olise is currently needed in the centre.
Bayern would therefore have to spend money to sign at least one more attacker. Since there is still no progress in the negotiations with Stuttgart regarding Nick Woltemade, three further options are being discussed.
Firstly, interest in Malick Fofana from Lyon has flared up again. Secondly, Christopher Nkunku from Chelsea remains a topic of conversation at Sabener Strasse. Furthermore, RB Leipzig‘s Xavi Simons is also still being discussed, although his move to the Blues is not yet finalised. There is also no agreement on a transfer fee for him.
In any case, it is clear that Bayern would have to pay more than than the fee they have received for Coman to buy Woltemade, Nkunku or Simons. Only by signing Fofana could a transfer surplus be generated from the Coman deal.
Bayern Munich face Stuttgart in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup, a clash between two sides with lofty ambitions for the 2025-26 season. Both teams ebter this game after a title run, Stuttgart qualified as DFB-Pokal winners, while Bayern enter as Bundesliga champions.
Adding intrigue to the fixture is the ongoing transfer tussle between the two clubs for Woltemade, creating an undercurrent of tension ahead of this early-season showdown on August 17.
Additional reporting by Tim Ursinus.
