Anyone who thought that FC Bayern would be able to pry Nick Woltemade away from Stuttgart so easily is mistaken. Initial contact has been made, and the Swabians are asking for an immense transfer fee. VfB is considering a transfer fee in the hundreds of millions of euros.
This is going to be an exciting chapter in this summer’s transfer window: Nick Woltemade wants to join FC Bayern, and the Munich club wants him. There has reportedly been an initial exchange between the two clubs’ officials, during which initial price demands were discussed. The newly crowned cup winners are looking for a transfer fee in the hundreds of millions of euros before they will even consider sitting down at the negotiating table.
The transfer fee demands are worlds apart
The facts are clear: Woltemade is only 23 years old and still has three years left on his contract until the end of June 2028, with no release clause. He is currently in an enormous development phase, wants to become European champion with the German U-21 national team against England tonight (9 p.m.) – and Stuttgart would like to keep him. This is likely to make negotiations very tough and lengthy. Bayern’s bosses had previously been expecting around €50 million. In other words, the two southern rivals’ ideas are worlds apart.
Talks between the clubs have begun cautiously and are slowly intensifying. According to Bayern, this will happen no later than Tuesday, when the transfer window officially opens and coach Vincent Kompany’s team has completed the round of 16 of the Club World Cup against Flamengo (Sunday, 10 p.m. German time).
With Woltemade, Kompany would face a tactical debate
After Bayern recently received several rejections in their search for an offensive player (Florian Wirtz, Nico Williams – Bradley Barcola is most likely not for sale, Eberl is said to be continuing to court Gittens), Woltemade could now become Bayern’s top transfer this summer. If that’s the case, a debate about the system and tactics would be inevitable in Munich.
If coach Kompany didn’t have a convincing plan for Wirtz as a center player because Jamal Musiala is also on the team, something would have to change. Woltemade is highly valued by FCB officials precisely because of his flexibility – whether as a backup for Harry Kane or as a replacement for Thomas Müller, who will soon be leaving. However, Woltemade is not a winger. And Bayern will almost certainly not spend more than 50 or 60 million on a professional to then use him as a substitute. It’s going to be an exciting chapter.
