No Future in Munich: Bayern Sets Price Tag for Hiroki Ito | OneFootball

Hiroki Ito’s future at FC Bayern is once again up in the air. Sporting director Max Eberl has publicly confirmed for the first time that the Munich club would not stand in the way of a transfer for the Japanese international—provided the player himself wants to leave.

Hiroki Ito is facing a difficult season at FC Bayern. With the signing of Nathaniel Brown this summer, the Munich club has further strengthened its left side of the defense. At the same time, competition for spots in the center of the defense is fierce.

Against this backdrop, Max Eberl has now spoken with surprising candor about the 27-year-old’s future.

Eberl: The decision is up to Ito

During Brown’s introductory press conference, Bayern’s sporting director made it clear that the Japanese player’s departure is certainly a possibility.

“If Hiroki Ito is considering a transfer because he himself realizes that it will be difficult to fight for a spot on the team, then we’ll take care of it. We’ve now strengthened the left side with Nene (in addition to Davies), and in central defense we naturally have three outstanding players in Minjae, Jona, and Upa,” Eberl explained.

The 52-year-old thus made it clear that FC Bayern is not actively putting Ito up for sale. However, should the defender himself seek a transfer, club officials would be willing to hold talks.

Bayern is reportedly asking for 20 million euros

Photo: IMAGO

According to information from BILD, the Munich club already has a clear asking price in mind. The record champions are reportedly demanding around 20 million euros for the Japanese national team player. However, no concrete offers have been made at this time.

For Ito, his playing prospects are likely to play a decisive role in the coming weeks. With Alphonso Davies and Nathaniel Brown, the left side is well-stocked. In central defense, Minjae Kim, Jonathan Tah, and Dayot Upamecano are also competing for starting spots.

Consequently, the Japanese player’s chances of seeing playing time in the new season could be limited.

It remains to be seen whether Ito will actually express a desire to leave. However, Eberl’s statements indicate that FC Bayern is, in principle, open to a transfer—provided the initiative comes from the player and a club meets Munich’s financial expectations.