Midfield shake-up looms: Leon Goretzka set for Bayern Munich exit | OneFootball

The sporting future of Leon Goretzka at FC Bayern is more uncertain than ever. The 30-year-old midfielder's contract expires next summer – and currently, there is little to suggest an extension.

The 2-2 draw at Union Berlin not only ended the record champions' impressive winning streak (16 consecutive competitive wins), but also brought Goretzka back into the focus of criticism at the German record champions. In the match in the capital, the national player delivered a weak performance, lost possession ten times, and remained largely inconspicuous with just 60 touches of the ball.

Fans lose patience – little influence on the game

Dissatisfaction with Goretzka is noticeably growing on social media. Many fans accuse him of having no real influence on Bayern's game – neither in build-up play nor in winning the ball. The Bochum native rarely succeeds with progressive passes, and too seldom does he use his physicality in duels.

Statistically, Goretzka also falls short: no scorer points this season, along with a noticeable decline in speed, dynamism, and presence. With an estimated annual salary of around 17 million euros, the midfielder is still among the top earners at FC Bayern – a mismatch that has long been discussed internally.

Coach Vincent Kompany continues to rely on Goretzka – especially in the Bundesliga. He has already started eight times this season. But in the Champions League, the veteran hardly plays a role.

In the previous Champions League matches, Goretzka has not started once. Even against supposedly weaker opponents like Brugge or Pafos, he remained on the bench. In the top games against Chelsea and PSG, he only managed a total of 28 minutes of play. The clear hierarchy in midfield is: Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic are the starters – Goretzka is now just a squad player.

Bischof shines with strong performances

With the signing of Tom Bischof last summer, FC Bayern has already taken precautions. The 20-year-old impresses with creativity, vision, and technical precision. In the 2-2 draw against Union Berlin, he set up Harry Kane's late equalizer with a pinpoint cross.

In the 3-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen, the youngster also provided an assist with a dream pass to Serge Gnabry. In eight competitive matches, Bischof already has three assists – in just 265 minutes of play. For comparison: Goretzka has played 786 minutes without a single goal involvement.

Many fans therefore already see Bischof as the first alternative behind Kimmich and Pavlovic. His development could decisively accelerate the transition in Bayern's midfield.

Separation likely – relief for the wage budget

While Bayern's bosses have shown themselves open to a contract extension with Serge Gnabry, many signs point to a departure for Goretzka in the summer of 2026. A sale or free transfer would ease the financial burden on Munich – and pave the way for rejuvenating the squad.

With the up-and-coming Bischof, the consistently strong Pavlovic, and the return of the currently injured Jamal Musiala, Munich are already well positioned in central midfield.

Everything points to this: Leon Goretzka's chapter at FC Bayern is coming to an end.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.