Bayern Munich Boss Reveals Strategic Blueprint to Snatch Chelsea and Real Madrid's Top Target
Max Eberl, Bayern Munich's sporting director, openly acknowledged his team's pursuit of VfB Stuttgart's coveted forward Nick Woltemade, while expressing concerns about the reported transfer fee.
Woltemade's reputation has skyrocketed in the last year. The tall striker arrived at Stuttgart without a transfer fee last summer, having scored only two Bundesliga goals across 41 matches. Twelve months on, this player dubbed the 'two-metre Messi' has allegedly caught the attention of Chelsea and Real Madrid.
Bayern have naturally been attracted to the 23-year-old, who scored 17 goals last season before becoming the leading goalscorer at the U21 European Championships as Germany reached the final.
"Everyone in the football world is aware that Nick is someone we're interested in," Eberl stated to reporters after Bayern's 4–2 win against Flamengo in the Club World Cup. "This is no longer confidential information."
Nevertheless, Eberl dismissed Stuttgart's reported valuation of €80 million (£68.4 million, $93.8 million). "There exists a parameter within which you can determine, 'This makes sense'," he explained.
"You identify a target player, and you would acquire him if the circumstances were right. But there's also a financial limit, a boundary, where you declare, 'This is what's feasible'."
"I don't believe Stuttgart intends to exploit us," the increasingly scrutinized executive diplomatically stated. "Our partnership is too strong for such behavior. I trust we can approach discussions in a fair and reasonable way. I hope Stuttgart won't prevent Woltemade's departure."
Bayern are reportedly prepared to offer up to €50 million (£42.7 million, $58.6 million) for Woltemade, according to BILD, but Eberl highlighted the challenges that accompany such prominent negotiations. "When discussions happen in the media spotlight, it typically doesn't produce positive results," he complained, despite having just publicly revealed Bayern's interest.
The German titleholders adopted a comparable strategy when chasing Florian Wirtz. In February, Bayern executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge stated: "Everyone at FC Bayern is unanimous that he [Wirtz] is precisely the player we wish to acquire." Liverpool ultimately secured the signing ahead of the Bavarians, with Eberl subsequently lamenting that his club couldn't compete with the unprecedented financial package offered by the Reds.
"Initially, you think, 'Damn'," Eberl admitted. "But when one opportunity disappears, another emerges." Whether they can successfully bring Woltemade through that opening is yet to be determined.