2025 Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are the side to beat again this year, but the club’s recruitment team still has work to do before the new campaign opens when the Bavarians take on Red Bull Leipzig in the season curtain-raiser on 22nd August.
Even before that league clash Vincent Kompany’s team is in action, facing VfB Stuttgart in the Franz Beckenbauer Supercup a week earlier, and that’s a game he will be targeting with, hopefully, a fully fit and firing squad. Bayern’s recent Club World Cup clash with Paris Saint-Germain had disastrous consequences for Kompany, not only in terms of the disappointing loss to the French but he lost one of his key men injured, and winger Jamal Musiala will be out for some time.
The 22-year-old was substituted at half time in the loss to Paris and, on his return to Germany, analysis revealed the extent of his horror injury as he has suffered a fractured fibula associated with a broken and dislocated ankle, and Musiala will be out for a lengthy period. So Bundesliga 2025 news reports emanating from Munich have suggested that sporting director Christoph Freund is on the hunt for a versatile forward and he is an admirer of Union Saint-Gilloise star Franjo Ivanovic. Like Musiala, the young Croatian can play out wide or through the middle and is valued at around 25m Euros. If Bayern are seriously interested they will have to move quickly as Bundesliga rivals Eintracht Frankfurt are also circling.
Diaz purchase is looking more difficult
Attention may be turning towards Ivanovic as Bayern’s long term pursuit of Liverpool winger Luis Diaz seems to be going nowhere fast. The Reds have been playing hardball with suitors for their star as he remains a part of Arne Slot’s plans after the Colombian ace scored 17 goals in all competitions last season. Liverpool have already signed Florian Wirtz from Bayer Leverkusen in a mega money deal worth well over £100m and they would most likely listen to offers for Diaz if the figures reached something near £90m.
And that brings another problem for Bayern, as well as Barcelona who were also tracking the player, as Saudi Pro League club Al Nassr have been alerted and the Saudis would be able to meet the asking price comfortably, if they find some spare change down the back of the sofa! Al Nassr’s best paid player, the evergreen Cristiano Ronaldo has urged the club to sign Diaz and I have no doubt the money men will listen to the Portuguese legend.
Whether or not they can persuade Diaz to come to Saudi is another question altogether; but sometimes money talks the loudest.
The SBOTOP Bundesliga 2025 betting odds still back a Bavarian title win but they need to strengthen, because Leverkusen, Leipzig and Borussia Dortmund will be ready to pounce on any weakness.
Stuttgart keen to keep hold of Woltemade
Bayern Munich are casting their net pretty widely and have shown a keen interest in VfB Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade. The 23-year old, another attacking midfielder come striker, transferred from Werder Bremen to Stuttgart last summer and he has been hugely impressive, scoring 12 league goals and five in the cup, including one in the DFB Pokal Cup final which VfB won against Arminia Bielefeld.
Woltemade has picked up two full German caps as well as starring for the national team at U21 level, and Die Schwaben are very keen to keep hold of their man. VfB CEO Alexander Wehrle has ruled out any move, saying: “We’re not in negotiations with Bayern. I made my position very clear five weeks ago and nothing has changed. Nick Woltemade will be playing football with us next year.”
But with six weeks of the transfer window still to go these will be nervous times for Stuttgart fans.
Still no plans for top flight expansion
Amidst speculation that the Bundesliga was considering expanding from 18 to 20 teams, German Football League managing director Steffen Merkel dampened down the idea on Thursday morning during a press conference. The Bundesliga is out of step with the Premier League, La Liga and Serie A, which all have 20 clubs, and the increased fixture count brings in bigger revenues for these leagues.
But the flip side is that the already packed football calendar would be even busier for clubs and the Bundesliga currently has an advantage over the English, Spanish and Italian leagues in that respect. And Ligue 1 in France recently downsized from 20 to 18, with Paris Saint-Germain benefiting from the schedule to win the Champions League.
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