Actually, Konrad Laimer could travel to Munich with Julian Nagelsmann, Marcel Sabitzer and Dayot Upamecano.
You know each other very well. They worked together at RB Leipzig before the coach, the offensive man and the defensive giants were drawn to the record champions in southern Germany a year ago. At Bayern Munich, they could soon be working together again if Laimer’s wish and, according to reports, the Munich side’s wish for the midfielder to be signed is fulfilled.
The fact that cup winners Leipzig are hosting the Supercup champions in the Red Bull Arena on Saturday (8.30 p.m.) further fuels Bayern’s piquant bid for another top performer from one of their main rivals in the Bundesliga. Just recently, RB board boss Oliver Mintzlaff ranted on ServusTV: “I hope that Bayern will find other ideas and not always get our players.”
In 2016, RB rose to the Bundesliga, to the suspicion of many: the can club, the marketing project. Remarkably, the relationship between the club bosses in Munich and Leipzig was and is actually characterized by an almost friendly professionalism and mutual respect.
RB coach Tedesco: No concerns about Laimer
However, it quickly became clear that RB Leipzig would become one of Bayern’s long-term pursuers. With the cup victory last season, the so-called lawn ball athletes won their first major title, and there is still a lot of room in the showcase for the Supercup. “We want to win everything that is official and that there is to win,” said RB coach Domenico Tedesco.
He also wants to trust Laimer, of course. “I have no concerns,” said Tedesco. “Konni trains very well. He’s an athlete, he has a strong character.” And Laimer be their player, be his player. “And as long as there is nothing else, he has my full support,” said the RB coach. According to reports, the Saxons had actually hoped for clarity before the first duel with Munich this season.
“The longer this drags on, the more difficult it becomes to do it.” Time speaks for RB Leipzig, stressed Tedesco. The Bavarians are said to have already been rebuffed with two offers for Laimer. Leipzig should insist on 30 million euros.
Shopping style brings back memories
That Bayern strengthen themselves by weakening one of their biggest rivals en passant is nothing new. “It’s been like this for 40 years,” Jürgen Klinsmann, a former Bayern player and coach, told the Rheinische Post at the end of last season. The Munich team had the competitive advantage of “always being able to damage the competitor by ripping out important pieces from those who come too close to them,” Klinsmann emphasized.
Other clubs in the Bundesliga know that, in Gladbach from earlier times, but also in Bremen or Dortmund. From Munich it is said that the purchases are not made to weaken opponents, but to what they need in their positions, as President Herbert Hainer once explained. So they also need Laimer from the pursuer RB Leipzig.
