Bayern Muncih’s World Cup winning captain Philipp Lahm has said that there are no guarantee’s that star striker Thomas Muller, will stay at the Allianz Arena, with Manchester United said to be very keen on his transfer.
The 25-year-old has been linked with a move to Old Trafford, with German channel Sport 1, having claimed that The Red Devils had bid a 100 million for his services. It is also being reported that the German forward, capable of playing anywhere across the front three, is open to a move.
“I certainly can’t give any guarantee for Thomas Muller” – Philipp Lahm
Manchester United have already signed Bayern’s Bastian Schweinsteiger earlier in the window, along with Morgan Schneiderlin, Matteo Darmian and Memphis Depay. However, the club are said to be in the market for a striker, having let go of Robin van Persie and Radamel Falcao. Manager Louis Van Gaal had earlier said, that the Old Trafford outfit were in talks with a “surprise” signing, who according to various reports, is Thomas Muller.
Bayern Munich are currently in Shanghai on their pre-season tour, and while speaking to the press, Lahm said: “In football you can imagine everything.
“It’s not my decision. In football, it goes so, so quickly.
“It’s not always only up to the player. There are clubs who get players, players go.
“In football everything goes very, very quickly. I think you can never give a guarantee that it will work like this or like that.
“As a result, I certainly can’t give any guarantee for Thomas Muller or talk about whether I can imagine [him leaving]. You can always imagine anything happening.”
There has been widespread concerns that club’s from other league’s will be unable to cope up with the huge money that the Premier League clubs will receive as part of their new TV deal, however, Muller insisted that Bayern are unlikely to suffer and will be competing at the top. He also said that, Bayern were probably ready to hold on to Muller.
“We’re still a top club that every year, or in the last few years, has made at least the Champions League semifinal.
“We have a top team that’s very well-equipped this year as well and that can challenge on all fronts.
“So you don’t have to be worried about anything. And I’m definitely not worried about Thomas, I don’t think we’re going to let him go.”
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Is Thomas Muller the striker that Manchester United need?
Manchester United have sold Robin van Persie to Fenerbahce, while Radamel Falcao’s loan was not extended and he has signed for Chelsea FC, this leave’s the Red Devils with only one recognized senior striker in their ranks in Wayne Rooney, and are short of options, in case the Englishman is injured or un-available.
The Old Trafford outfit have had a brilliant transfer window so far, getting their transfer targets in early, giving them time to gel with the team, and have enough time to settle in properly with their life in England. However, even after United’s heavy recruitment, it is believed that they are still looking to add two players to the squad, a striker and a defender, with Sergio Ramos and Nicolas Otamendi being the top two targets for the defender’s role.
The English giants, will need at-least one more striker to mount a proper title challenge for the upcoming season, with Thomas Muller an ideal target. The 25-year-old can play anywhere across the front three, and has scored goals on almost all big occasions, making him the ideal partner for Wayne Rooney in the front, fitting into the 4-3-3 that Van Gaal wants to adapt this term. The striker signed a five-year contract with the Bavarians last summer, but would be willing to move, considering he will be offered a salary in the region of A?265,000, almost twice of what he is earning in Munich.
The striker has had a strenuous relationship with manager Pep Guardiola, who doesn’t value the forward that much. There were even reports of a training ground bust up between the two, and the 25-year-old was even benched last year, which had seen the Spanish manager being booed by the fans. Manchester United will look to exploit it, and try to bring the German international to Old Trafford. If they indeed are successful in their attempts to land the striker, not only will they become title contenders, but will probably ‘philosophy’ their way to the title.