Summer transfer battle? Bayern and BVB eye Belgian star | OneFootball

FC Bayern continues to work intensively on its squad planning for the new season. In addition to the well-known targets, new names are constantly circulating around Säbener Straße. According to recent reports, Charles De Ketelaere is also among the players being scouted by the Munich club.

With Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown, FC Bayern is currently pursuing two specific transfer targets. Both players have already given the record champions their preliminary approval, and negotiations with their respective clubs are now underway.

At the same time, however, the Munich club continues to scout the market intensively. After all, further transfer planning also depends on which players will leave the club this summer.

One name that is now once again being linked with FC Bayern is Charles De Ketelaere of Atalanta Bergamo.

As reported by the website Fussballdaten, both FC Bayern and Borussia Dortmund are closely monitoring the Belgian international’s development.

De Ketelaere is impressing in Italy

The 25-year-old has established himself as a fixture in Serie A in recent years. After his move from Club Brugge to AC Milan, he made his definitive breakthrough, particularly at Atalanta Bergamo.

Thanks to his strong performances, De Ketelaere is now also part of the Belgian national team’s squad for the 2026 World Cup.

It is his versatility, above all, that makes the attacking player so intriguing. The Belgian can be deployed as a playmaker, a deep-lying striker, on either wing, or even as a center forward.

Standing 1.92 meters tall, he also brings a physical profile that has become rather rare in modern attacking play. De Ketelaere combines technical quality, game intelligence, and physical presence at a high level.

Bayern is focusing on other priorities

Photo: Getty Images

Despite the general interest, however, a move to Munich does not appear to be a hot topic at the moment.

According to the report, De Ketelaere is currently viewed by FC Bayern merely as a Plan B option. The Munich club remains fully focused on signing Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown.

On top of that, Atalanta Bergamo has no intention of actively selling its star player. Should any movement occur regarding the transfer, a potential buyer would apparently have to dig deep into their pockets.

According to the report, Atalanta would only seriously consider a sale if an offer of between 40 and 50 million euros were made.

At least De Ketelaere’s salary demands would be relatively moderate. Reportedly, the Belgian is said to be seeking four to five million euros per year, which would be quite reasonable compared to other top international players.

BVB is also showing interest

In addition to FC Bayern, Borussia Dortmund is apparently also looking into the Belgian.

At BVB, De Ketelaere could be an interesting option, especially following Julian Brandt’s departure. However, a transfer fee in the range of 40 to 50 million euros would likely be difficult for Dortmund to afford as well, unless they generate significant transfer revenue first.

Currently, there are no concrete moves from either Munich or Dortmund. The player’s focus is entirely on the upcoming World Cup anyway.

For FC Bayern, De Ketelaere thus remains an interesting prospect to watch for the time being. Should there be any changes regarding their top transfer targets or if additional attacking players leave the club, however, the Belgian international’s name could become a much hotter topic again over the course of the summer.