The Bayern Insider: Benjamin Sesko plan emerges as Liverpool close in on Bradley Barcola | OneFootball

Welcome to today’s exclusive & comprehensive round-up of all things Bayern Munich from Bayern insider Christian Falk. Featuring updates on Luis Diaz, Benjamin Šeško, Warren Zaïre-Emery, and Givairo Read.

Today’s top stories

It’s true that Bayern Munich have two big bank accounts. In Germany, we always talk about the famous Bavarian Festgeldkonto. Everyone has it, but we don’t have quite the same amount on it as FC Bayern! But, indeed, the one they generally rely on to make transfers is not as big as it once was. There were many deals that have drained it, like the €100m deal for Harry Kane and the €50m for Michael Olise. This is why we reported on Bayern’s second account, and this is the bank account of the Allianz Arena – the stadium! There, they have a lot of money left; certainly enough to buy one or two more Harry Kanes. There isn’t an idea to use this money in the current window, but it’s always good to have it, because if a new Kane comes on the market, Bayern can dig into their backup bank account. Otherwise, there is no idea to use it in the current transfer window.

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Harry Kane’s contract talks with Bayern Munich

There was a former Tottenham manager who once claimed that Harry Kane has an idea of coming back to England to compete for Alan Shearer’s goal record in the Premier League. I can concretely say that this is not true. He’s not so keen on the goal record and would prefer to get titles with Bayern Munich. Kane has sent this clear signal to the club. I heard from a prominent source involved in the negotiations that Harry loves Bayern Munich, and Bayern Munich loves Harry Kane. So, a solution will be found. At the moment, he’s on holiday in the Caribbean. He had his birthday on Tuesday (Happy Birthday, Harry!).

It’s good for the English national team if the 33-year-old wants to play in the Euros in Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. But he also saw Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo playing at the World Cup. They were still able to make an impact and score goals. This is why Kane has an idea in his head to play in the next World Cup in 2030, as he desperately wants this title. To do this, of course, you need to have a contract with a top club. It’s unlikely that he’d still have a key role with the England squad if he’s playing football in Saudi Arabia like Ronaldo! There were, of course, one or two players in the squad who perhaps defy this, but when you’re the captain of the English national team, you should play in a top league. Harry Kane shares that belief.

This is why Kane is looking for a long-term contract. So, the question now is how long of a contract are we talking about? I heard that both sides are clear on the matter – there will be a contract on the table offering a minimum two-year extension (until 2029). His current terms run out in 2027. The next question is how much the Englishman wants to earn with his new contract. Both sides are also clear on this: he should earn about €25m gross per year. He won’t earn less on the new contract. But it’s easier to say that he can stay on this amount if he gets handed one more year on his contract, or perhaps Harry Kane will get more money if he’s agreeing to a shorter-term contract.

Direct negotiations will start when Harry Kane returns to Bayern Munich after the Asian tour. Bayern will be back on August 8, and then negotiations can officially begin.

Is there a Benjamin Šeško question for FC Bayern?

✅ It is TRUE: There is an idea to give Harry Kane a deeper role as he gets older at Bayern Munich. The striker knows he’s not getting faster as the years progress, but everyone can see that he already has an important role at FC Bayern with his passing and playmaking ability. So, he already has in his mind that he could play deeper and leave room for a pure striker ahead of him. This idea was already developing at the club when Vincent Kompany first joined in 2024, which was why Bayern had the idea to bring Benjamin Šeško to Munich. He was too expensive at the time, which is why Manchester United ended up pulling off the deal a year later.

However, the idea is still there to bring such a striker into the team. Now, Bayern have Ismael Saibari who can cover this role as well. So Bayern will perhaps see if they can make it work already this coming season. So they have to see if they’ll still need a player like Šeško down the line. The Slovenian is still on the list and he’s a player who’s very interesting for FC Bayern. Perhaps, if he’s struggling to make his mark in the Premier League, they could return to this idea. The plan for the future, nonetheless, is to sign another striker who can be a Harry Kane successor but also play in a two-striker system. This is one of Vincent Kompany’s key ideas.

Could Luis Diaz move to the Saudi Pro League this summer?

❌ It is NOT TRUE: Bayern Munich could sell Luis Diaz to the Saudi Pro League. Everyone loves Diaz in Munich just as much as everyone loved him at Liverpool (if not more!). His name is Lucho, he’s from Barrancas – and he won’t leave FC Bayern! I talked to both sides and found out that there has been no concrete offer from Al-Hilal. It’s also not true that there was a verbal agreement struck between the Colombian and the Saudi outfit. He’s very happy at Bayern Munich. Also, Jan Christian-Dreesen, the Bayern CEO, made it clear that it would be crazy for the club to sell Diaz this summer, as Bayern have a very good squad and the winger is a key part of it.

Bayern set to lose out on Bradley Barcola to Liverpool

Bayern Munich are following this potential transfer of Bradley Barcola to Liverpool. Last summer, and the summer before, they were always in contact with the Frenchman’s management. The 23-year-old is a player on the shortlist, and even this summer they knocked on Barcola’s door to check his situation and what his feelings were for the future, as his current contract runs out in 2028. There are no negotiations with PSG, at the moment, for a contract extension, so he’s getting cheaper and cheaper every year.

The left-sided winger is too expensive this summer for Bayern Munich, but it’s a pity that he’s not too expensive for Liverpool right now! They are closer to this deal. Yan Diomande, it seems, will be signing for Real Madrid, so Liverpool really need a player like Barcola now. Bayern, on the other hand, could use a player like this in the future. We don’t know what’s happening with Michael Olise long-term. This summer, of course, we know he’s staying put, but next summer the big question will be whether Olise signs a new contract or if Bayern will be forced to sell him.

The number one option to replace Michael Olise would be, as far as Bayern Munich are concerned, Bradley Barcola. If Liverpool are there, however, and if he’s signing for the Reds, there’s no chance for Bayern. But next summer, there could be a chance if he’s staying in Paris for another season.

Could Warren Zaïre-Emery be a future Bayern player?

It’s a good idea from Willy Sagnol that Warren Zaïre-Emery could be an ideal Bayern Munich target in future. I know Willy very well, and he’s got a good eye for a player. This is a big name, which would fit perfectly for FC Bayern. But, to be honest, there’s no chance of getting this player at the moment. Bayern Munich haven’t got a space free for a midfielder in the squad. Remember, Noël Aséko, who was a Bayern Munich player on loan at Hannover, would have been, in Vincent Kompany’s ideal world, involved in the squad to be tested this summer. But in the end, they had to sell him to Frankfurt for €12m.

I was very surprised by his first press conference at Frankfurt, where he described himself as being of a similar style to N’Golo Kanté. So, you can see he’s not afraid of the future and has a clear plan. Such players, with such incredible self-confidence, are very interesting for Bayern Munich. I’m happy he’s staying put in Germany, as he could be a future player for the German national team. But if you’re prepared to give up such a player and say that you’ve got too many players in this position – like Tom Bischof, Joshua Kimmich, Konrad Laimer, and many other players – then there is, sadly, no place at the moment for Aséko or Zaïre-Emery.

Why haven’t Bayern moved in for Givairo Read sooner?

✅ It is TRUE: Injuries played a part in Bayern Munich’s decision not to move for Givairo Read in the January transfer window. We’ve extensively reported on FC Bayern’s interest in Read – that’s absolutely concrete. But the Feyenoord star’s injury concerns left the Bavarians with more questions than answers last season. More to the point, Bayern always know that when they come to the table, the price will always be higher than it might be for another club like, for instance, Hoffenheim. Bayern Munich did not want to pay so much money for Read, especially while he was recovering from injury, and opted to stick with the options they had – like the extremely reliable Konrad Laimer, who had a fantastic season at right-back.

Instead, the club has put its money where its mouth is for Frankfurt left-back Nathaniel Brown. I met the fullback yesterday. He was being introduced to the press in his opening Bayern presser. Max Eberl made it clear that Brown can play on either flank in the defence, and also as a six. So, the idea was to spend more money on a big talent in Nathaniel Brown. Certainly, Bayern feel vindicated in that decision after a strong showing for Germany in the World Cup. This is why no money was left for Givairo Read, and ultimately why he’s still on the market. Perhaps it will mean that he ends up in the Premier League this summer.

Max Eberl addresses Charles De Ketelaere link

When I was there at the press conference with Max Eberl, I thought it would be wise to ask Bayern’s director of sport about the links to Charles De Ketelaere. He was laughing when I asked him if it was true or not true that the Belgian was on the list at Bayern Munich, and told me that it’s “not true”.

Santos midfielder Gabriel Bontempo catches the eye in Munich

✅ It is TRUE: Bayern Munich won’t go for Gabriel Bontempo this summer. If there was an offer, as has been claimed elsewhere, this wasn’t confirmed to me. At the moment, I don’t think there is an offer because the midfield is packed with players playing his position. Max Eberl made it very clear that further incomings won’t be happening at the present time. They have Brown and Saibari, and that’s it for now. If they sell any players, perhaps they’ll do something else. But when you listen to Eberl’s words, you get the impression they’d be looking more at a centre-back than anything else.

They want to sell Hiroki Ito. Alphonso Davies will stay in the squad, despite rumours that Bayern want to sell the Canadian. Ito, they’d sell him, but they don’t necessarily need a player in this position, because Brown can cover here also. Max Eberl made it very clear that Bayern want to sell, and they have to sell Bryan Zaragoza, Sacha Boey and João Palhinha. They put a lot of pressure on the players, and it was made clear that they don’t have a future at the club.

Don’t forget Bayern are also signing a talented player from Gambino Stars (with whom they have a partnership), Bara Ndiaye. He will have a place in the squad like Aséko had.

João Palhinha and Aston Villa’s interest

Bayern are not particularly confident, at the moment, that a deal will be struck with Aston Villa for João Palhinha. They’ve tried to put pressure on the player, but the Portuguese international has also put the pressure back on the club by insisting that he’s going to stay put if Bayern are determined to attach a high asking price to him and there aren’t any clubs available that he’d like to join. This is hard for Bayern, as they do want to sell him.

There is still a big hope that Aston Villa will come in with an offer. I think he’d fit in perfectly at this great club. I saw the midfielder in training on Wednesday, and I have to say that he’s doing really well. The players were giving him a hard time but he gave as good as he got! He almost picked up an injury, such was the intensity of his showing. He wanted to show that he’s good enough for Bayern and, of course, good enough for a big club like Villa. I think we should keep an eye on him. But, at the moment, it’s all a bit quiet.

Arijon Ibrahimović’s role at Bayern this year

✅ It is TRUE: Bayern Munich consider Arijon Ibrahimović as the backup option to Luis Diaz this season. This follows the club’s extensive planning around the position and potential solutions in the market. They worked out quickly that Yan Diomande would be too expensive, so they came to the idea that they would mimic the solution they found on the right side by having Lennart Karl be Michael Olise’s understudy. This worked out perfectly. Now, Bayern Munich have this incredible talent they can call upon on the right wing who’s too expensive for most other clubs to buy. Don’t forget the Real Madrid rumours!

They have the same idea with Ibrahimović on the other side. I saw him at the session in the training camp at the Tegernsee, and he was really fighting hard for his position. He was playing against Wisdom Mike, and Wisdom did very well in this duel (this zweikampf, we say, in Germany). Ibrahimović has a big dream this season and he’ll throw everything at it. Why can’t he go the way of Lennart Karl and carve a place out in the first-team squad like Karl? Okay, Lennart may be younger than him, but he can see an opportunity to follow the pathway.