After a strong year with Hannover 96, it looked for a while as though Noel Aseko might be able to establish himself at FC Bayern. But the Munich club is now pursuing a different plan and is reportedly very close to a deal with Eintracht Frankfurt.
Originally, he was slated for the upcoming season—to fill the midfield spot alongside Tom Bischof following Leon Goretzka’s departure and to further his personal development. After all, Noel Aseko made a strong case for himself at Hannover 96 last season.
Bayern’s management quickly agreed to bring Aseko back to the German record champions. That has happened. However, the plan for the youngster has changed in recent weeks. On the one hand, because new signing and left back Nathaniel Brown can also play in defensive midfield, providing the necessary backup at that position. On the other hand, because FC Bayern needs revenue.
Since there is no market for Joao Palhinha, Sacha Boey, or Bryan Zaragoza—and since salary costs for the trio have resumed as of July 1—and since the club was unable to generate any real profit even from the sale of Alexander Nübel to Besiktas Istanbul, FC Bayern must look elsewhere. Specifically, the lack of sales means that talents developed at the club’s academy are being (or must be) sold for too little to balance the books while simultaneously financing the signings of Brown and Ismael Saibari for a good 100 million euros.
This is another reason why Jonathan Asp Jensen is on the verge of leaving—as is Aseko, who is being courted by Eintracht Frankfurt. Bayern had envisioned a transfer fee of around 15 million euros. Following recent talks between Frankfurt and Munich, the two clubs could reach an agreement at 13 million euros. Final details still need to be worked out. Further talks between the parties will follow shortly, but a transfer is slowly taking shape.
If the deal goes through, Aseko would be the third player sold this summer transfer window after Daniel Peretz and Jonah Kusi-Asare—and, together with Nicolas Jackson, Raphael Guerreiro, and Goretzka, the sixth departure.
