Bayern will cut back "too big" squad - Hoeness

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has stated that the Bundesliga champions will scale back the size of their squad over the coming months as it is “too big”, with a handful of players expected to depart the Allianz Arena by December.

Manager Niko Kovac has eyed up an influx of new blood at the club since his arrival, though he has only secured the signature of Leon Goretzka from Schalke so far, with a deal agreed for Alphonso Davies to arrive from the Vancouver Whitecaps in the new year.

A move for France international and World Cup winner Benjamin Pavard has also been mooted as a transfer for next summer but Bayern are expected to look to recruit other new faces, necessitating a potential jettisoning of squad members from the fringes.

Speaking to SportBILD, Hoeness was adamant that the club would need to sell members of its championship-winning side in order to scale back by the end of the year.

“The squad is too big,” the club president stated. "We will have to hand in one, two or three players by Christmas at the latest." 

Chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge previously confirmed that defender Jerome Boateng has held talks about a potential move to Paris Saint-Germain and midfielder Arturo Vidal has been linked with both Inter Milan and Manchester United following his omission from Kovac’s pre-season squad.

Another player linked with a departure from Bavaria is Spain international Thiago Alcantara, though Hoeness refused to speculate on the midfielder’s future following rumours of interest from United and Premier League rivals Chelsea.

“That's a question they have to ask the coach, not me,” he added.

One player the president is keen to retain however is James Rodriguez. The Real Madrid playmaker is on loan at the Allianz Arena until 2019, and Hoeness has stressed that the club would reject any attempts to lure the 2014 World Cup Golden Boot winner away.
“We would never have agreed. He has a valid contract with us.”

When asked whether Bayern would look to secure the Colombia star’s services beyond his current deal, Hoeness stated that there was “no doubt” that the club would look to sign him permanently from the Champions League winners, adding “thank God we have one more year left."