Lothar Matthäus, a record holder for national team appearances, recently commented on the situation surrounding Josko Gvardiol, Manchester City’s central defender, and a potential move to FC Bayern Munich. According to Matthäus, the FCB has already initiated tangible steps in this direction.

“I have a player in mind, and I’ve heard they (Bayern) have already made their initial moves. A former Leipzig player, now at Manchester City, a left-back/central defender,” Matthäus revealed during the Bayern versus 1. FC Cologne match on Saturday, subsequently confirming his reference to Gvardiol.

Bayern currently boasts a strong and proven central defensive partnership in Jonathan Tah and Dayot Upamecano, effective in the medium term. However, a potential vacancy could arise this summer if Min-jae Kim, currently the third-choice defender and frequently linked with a departure, were to leave the German champions. The key question remains whether Gvardiol would be willing to accept a rotational role behind Tah and Upamecano.

At 24 years old, Gvardiol clearly harbors ambitions of being a regular starter, and his contract with Manchester City extends until 2028, which would likely inflate his transfer fee. It’s worth remembering that City paid €90 million to acquire him from RB Leipzig in 2023.

It was at Leipzig, a direct Bundesliga rival, where Gvardiol truly made his mark on the international stage, featuring in 87 matches for the German club between 2021 and 2023. While generally a starter at City, he was sidelined from early January to early May due to a tibia fracture, only making his return this week in the 3-0 victory against Crystal Palace.

Another significant advantage for Bayern is Gvardiol’s left-footedness, allowing him to comfortably operate as a left-back, a versatility not shared by Tah and Upamecano.

Christoph Freund, FC Bayern Munich’s sporting director, has confirmed that goalkeeper Alexander Nübel, currently on loan at VfB Stuttgart until the end of June, does not feature in the Bavarian club’s long-term strategies.

“We’ve had discussions with his representatives, and Alex is also aware of our plans,” Freund stated after Bayern’s 5-1 victory over 1. FC Cologne on the final Bundesliga matchday. With Manuel Neuer and Sven Ulreich both extending their contracts for another year, alongside Jonas Urbig designated as Neuer’s mid-term successor, there is no place for Nübel. “We will commence the next season with this goalkeeping trio; that is the strategy,” Freund affirmed.

Under contract with Bayern until 2030, the 29-year-old goalkeeper is not expected to return to Säbener Straße. While VfB Stuttgart is reportedly keen on a permanent transfer, they currently lack the necessary financial resources. Consequently, the future of the three-time German international remains uncertain.

Nübel joined Bayern in 2020 from FC Schalke 04 but has only made four official appearances for the FCB. He spent loan spells at AS Monaco from 2021 to 2023, and with Stuttgart since 2023.

Harry Kane has once again etched his name into the annals of Bundesliga history.

With an impressive 36 goals during the 2025-2026 campaign, the English international has clinched the top scorer title for the third consecutive season. Since his arrival at FC Bayern Munich in 2023 from Tottenham Hotspur, Kane has become the first player ever to finish as the leading goalscorer in each of his initial three seasons in the Bundesliga. He also stands alone as the only player to surpass 25 goals in each of his first three seasons in the German championship.

In the 2023/24 season, he netted 36 times, and the previous season saw him score 26 goals. His claim to the top scorer title for this season was long assured; on Saturday, he further boosted his tally to 36 with a hat-trick in the resounding 5-1 victory against Cologne.