Nevertheless, in the end, Kim Min-jae remains.
French 'L'Equipe' reported on the 30th (Korean time) that 'Dier is expected to conclude his contract with Bayern Munich at the end of this season and transfer to the prestigious AS Monaco in France.' Although specific contract terms were not disclosed, it was reported that negotiations have entered their final stages.
Bayern's extensive defensive restructuring has begun. Dier, who had shown good form as a bench option among four defensive players on the team, will leave the team. After being loaned from Tottenham Hotspur to Bayern Munich last winter, he immediately successfully completed a permanent transfer. Dier, who struggled to get playing time at Tottenham due to competition for the starting position, quickly established himself in the German league, appearing in a total of 25 matches.
In particular, in the second half of the season, he was recognized for his competitiveness by being deployed as a starting defender to fill the gap left by Kim Min-jae's absence. This was because coach Thomas Tuchel preferred a stable defensive performance from Kim Min-jae, who was sidelined when the Kim Min-jae-Dayo Upamecano duo was disregarded, making Dier-Matthias de Ligt the primary combination.
However, a change in coach had a significant impact. After Tuchel's departure, under coach Vincent Kompany, the Kim Min-jae-Upamecano duo was relegated to the fourth option. Although he received opportunities due to injuries in the defensive line towards the end of the season, his performance was relatively below expectations.
The player himself strongly hoped for a re-signing with Bayern. However, due to the impact of Bayern's salary cuts, Dier, who was deemed surplus, was not offered a new contract and ultimately left the team. Dier, who will become a free agent, has headed towards the latter part of his career in Monaco, France.
L'Equipe noted, 'Monaco will utilize Dier as a starter. He is a useful asset who can handle both defense and midfield, making him a strategically valuable card.' However, specific terms such as the contract duration and salary have yet to be publicly disclosed, but the destination is already determined.
Furthermore, Dier's departure could signal another change in Bayern's defensive lineup. Rumors circulated last season that Bayern would drastically reorganize the defense, but rather than forcing a culling, the team seems to be progressing by adding one player at a time.
Among the four starting defenders, they decided to sell de Ligt and select the Upamecano-Kim Min-jae combination as the best pairing. Additionally, by selling Dier, there is a high possibility that the overall framework will remain unchanged. Both Upamecano and Kim Min-jae are sellable assets, but now that Dier is sold, they are unlikely to force any more transactions.
Moreover, Kim Min-jae himself appealed strongly for his retention in an interview with Germany's 'Sport Bild.' He said, 'My primary goal for next season is to play healthily at Bayern. For me, it makes more sense to show my potential while competing rather than leaving like this.'
With Dier leaving, the giant defender Jonathan Tah, who was originally touted for transfer from Bayer Leverkusen, is more likely to head to FC Barcelona instead of Bayern. Additionally, Bayern is preparing to acquire Leverkusen's ace Florian Wirtz, which increases the likelihood of Kim Min-jae taking on the role of a central figure in the defense once again.
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