On the verge of another Bundesliga title, Bayern looks to future

Bayern can win yet another title on Saturday even before kickoff against Borussia Mönchengladbach if Borussia Dortmund beats second-place Leipzig earlier in the day.

Bayern is almost certain to win yet another Bundesliga title, but how it makes a transition from an ageing side to one with the right mix of experience and youth next season will be crucial.-AP

Besides planning for a record-extending ninth straight Bundesliga title, Bayern Munich also spent a lot time planning for the future.

Bayern can win yet another title on Saturday even before kickoff against Borussia Mönchengladbach if Borussia Dortmund beats second-place Leipzig earlier in the day. Regardless, a Bayern victory would make certain of the title.

“We rediscovered our hunger in the two weeks where we didn’t play.

“That gave us time to recover physically and mentally. In the first week of training we had real fun and worked well. So, we are focused on the game," Bayern striker Thomas Müller said.

In the meantime, club management forged ahead with planning for next season in the wake of Hansi Flick’s decision to quit as coach. Flick is favored to take over the German national team after Joachim Löw steps down following this year’s European Championship.

Instead, Julian Nagelsmann will be joining Bayern from Leipzig to transform Flick’s successful but aging team. His five-year contract is unusually long for Bayern and accompanied by a clearout of familiar faces.

David Alaba has been at the club for 13 years but is leaving after Bayern balked at the cost of renewing his contract. Jerome Boateng will also depart after 10 years in Munich. Defensive midfielder Javi Martinez is off after nine years.

With the exception of a long-planned move for Leroy Sané, recent arrivals like right back Bouna Sarr and midfielder Marc Roca were generally underwhelming.

That contributed to the tension between Flick and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. The only confirmed signing for next season is defender Dayot Upamecano, joining from Leipzig along with Nagelsmann.

The new coach will also be expected to get more out of Lucas Hernandez, the France defender who remains Bayern’s club-record signing after joining for 80 million euros ($96 million) in 2019 but has become a rotation player.

Bayern’s biggest star could become its biggest problem. Robert Lewandowski’s incredible scoring form — 43 goals this season so far, an eyewatering 55 in 2019-20 — has made it almost impossible for Bayern to think about life without the prolific Polish striker.

Lewandowski isn’t slowing down yet, but he will turn 33 in August and is entering the second-to-last year of his contract.

Joshua Zirkzee started 2020-21 as a candidate for that role but the 19-year-old Dutchman didn’t score for Bayern — or even its reserve team — in the first half of the season, and he hasn’t scored since in an injury-hit loan spell to Italian club Parma.