Bayern Munich open to loaning out injury-prone defender Hiroki Ito (27) | OneFootball

The local Münchener Abendzeitung reports that Bayern Munich defender Hiroki Ito is likely to be loaned out this season. Presumably, the German record champions do not wish to sell the player they once invested €23.5m in. The fact that Ito has spent most of his two Bayern seasons on the sidelines has seen his estimated market value decline from €30m to €18m over the last 20 months.

Ito remains under contract with Bayern until the end of the 2027/28 campaign. In his absence, both Josip Stanisic and the recently re-signed Konrad Laimer have excelled on Ito’s preferred left-hand side. The German giants also signed Nathaniel Brown this summer and have publicly stated that they intend to keep presumed starting left back Alphonso Davies in the squad. There simply isn’t room for Ito.

Max Eberl on Hiroki Ito

Bayern’s Board Member for Sport Max Eberl effectively confirmed that Ito was free to depart if he wished while speaking to the newspaper. If not, the injury-prone 27-year-old can expect to work in a reserve central defensive role. At present, there are whispers that Hamburg and other Bundesliga clubs are interested in taking Ito on loan. There’s nevertheless nothing reliable surfacing as of yet.

“If Hiro were to have second thoughts because he realizes things are getting difficult, then we’ll address it,” Eberl told the newspaper.

GGFN | Peter Weis