Bayern Munich have signed center back Hiroki Ito, 25, and are also targeting Leverkusen center back Jonathan Tah, 28. With the inevitable departure of Munich’s existing center back options, Kim Min-jae may not be one of them.
Bayern Munich announced the signing of Ito, whose position overlaps with “center back” Kim Min-jae, on the club’s official website on Thursday. Ito’s contract runs until 2028.
Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah was initially reported to be on the Bavarians’ radar, but Hiroki’s arrival came without much fanfare. While central defender Tah and central midfielder Juan Palinha (Fulham) were considered to be Munich’s top targets, Hiroki was the quickest to join the club.
Ito, born in 1999, is a versatile defender who can play center back, full back, and defensive midfield. He stands at a solid 188 centimeters and is praised for his smooth ball control and development in the buildup from the back. 카지노사이트 He also has good accuracy with long passes.
Ito has been playing for VfB Stuttgart since the 2021-2022 season.
He joined Stuttgart on loan in the summer of 2021 after growing up in Japan with Jubilo Iwata. He quickly established himself as a regular in the first team and was able to secure a permanent transfer.
Ito has been a key defender for Stuttgart. In July 2022, he became the center of controversy when it was revealed that he had forced his girlfriend to have two abortions, but his soccer career never wavered. He made 37 official appearances in the 2022-2023 season and 29 in the 2023-2024 season despite being called up for the Asian Cup in Qatar, 바카라사이트 추천 helping Stuttgart finish second in the league.
Munich are planning to completely overhaul their defense in the summer transfer window. They have already signed Ito and are targeting Tah.
Tae is not a ‘prospect’. He was born in 1996, the same year as Kim Min-jae. As a youth player for Hamburg, Germany, he played between the first and second teams from 2013-2015. He joined Leverkusen in the summer of 2015 and has been playing for them ever since.
He was a regular for Leverkusen in the 2023-2024 season, scoring four goals and providing one assist in 31 league appearances. He helped the team win the Bundesliga title early.
Tah utilizes his height of 193 mc to compete for aerial balls.
He prefers to play short passes and his excellent ball-handling skills help him transition from defense to attack. His positioning is excellent and he is said to be able to control the tempo of the game. He also has good pace.
With the possibility of signing up to two center backs, there are some concerns that Kim Min-jae’s position could be jeopardized. However, it seems more likely that Der Licht will be the first to leave than Kim.
Sky Sports Germany’s Kerry Howe reported on Wednesday that “Munich are looking to keep just two central defenders and (one of them) Der Licht could leave if the right offer comes in,” adding that “‘New boss’ Vincent Kompany likes Dayo Upamecano, but the midfielder is open to a new challenge. His agent has entered the transfer market.”
After 12 years without a win, Munich are looking to rebuild their defense with Kompany at the helm.
Der Licht is the first target for sale. The reason is his frequent injuries and high salary. He currently earns €16 million a year, which is much higher than Kim Min-jae’s salary (€12 million). In addition, he spent a lot of time on the sidelines last season due to injury. 파워볼실시간 Selling Der Licht would free up funds for the transfer market and reduce wage expenditures.
In addition, a move to the Uffa Meccano is likely. He was reduced to a four-option center back at the end of the 2023-2024 season, with Der Licht, Dyer, and Kim Min-Jae all losing their places. Injuries were plentiful and mistakes were costly, including two consecutive red cards. Upamecano is reportedly highly regarded by Kompany, but will likely leave in search of playing time.