Julian Draxler, like all players in his position, was quick to dispel rumours of a move away from his club. In light of speculation linking him with a move to Bayern Munich, the player muttered the well-worn, cliche lines of the modern footballer. "I am in mid-season with PSG now and I am focused on the high aims we have,” he told reporters in a post-match interview. "I am not thinking about leaving the club in winter or summer.”
Indeed, we must always take players at their word. With just under two months until the January transfer window, rumours and mumblings of potential bids are exactly that. Yet that’s not to say Draxler couldn’t find himself in the Bavarian red of Bayern this time next year. And what a signing he would be.
Primarily used as a left winger for much of his career, Draxler would not only add unquestionable quality to Bayern’s front line but he would also offer a genuine, long-term replacement to Franck Ribery.
Although the 34-year old is still a key player when fit, there’s little excuse for a club the size of Bayern to still be so reliant upon him. And with a player like the German international, they’d have an alternative who can dance down the wings, skip past challenges and create goals and assists at will, just like his hypothetical predecessor.
Jupp Heynckes can rely upon Kingsley Coman as a promising alternative to Ribery, but as things stand the young, French talent is the only out-and-out winger in the squad aside from Ribery and his fellow, senior teammate Arjen Robben. Bringing in Draxler would mean two, younger options who can play on either wing just as easily.
Considering the club’s history with the player - they almost signed him while he was at Schalke - and their quest to appease Robert Lewandowski’s demands of more quality to challenge in the Champions League, Draxler would make perfect sense.
Couple that with the fact that the 24-year old is, of course, German and has proven his worth in the Bundesliga and Champions League multiple times and you have a player that would just about tick every box possible.
Bayern need to push on with their plans of bringing through the next generation of players at the club. Joshua Kimmich is in place, alongside David Alaba, Niklas Sule, Thiago Alcantara and Coman too. Draxler would make a fine addition to those impressive names.
