Bayern are making up their squad for the opening season: the club boss Rummenigge openly said who he reigning champions will rely on in the new season. For some national players, he issued a warning.

At the football arena of the Superbowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge was in a good mood. And right on time when most of Bayern’s World Cup participants came back from holidays, the chairman emphasized some possible changes in the squad. Jérôme Boateng is about to move to Paris Saint-Germain, Arturo Vidal could also go in the summer.

In the overcrowded midfield, on the other hand, there will also be space for the Spaniard Thiago in the future - and anyway for the Colombian James Rodríguez, who is still on loan from Real Madrid. In addition, the German champions are committed to get the 17-year-old Canadian top talent Alphonso Davies.

Boateng wants to move to Paris

Boateng is one of the German world champions disenchanted in Russia, who had to resume training exactly four weeks after the historical elimination after the group phase. But the 29-year-old central defender could soon clear his locker at Bayern. The move to the financially strong Neymar’s club Paris Saint-Germain, coached by Thomas Tuchel, seems to be in the final stages. Tuchel wants Boateng, the national player is looking for a new challenge. And Rummenigge would let Boateng go for a good transfer fee.

So for Boateng, Bayern and PSG it is all about financial terms. Almost 7000 kilometers away from Munich, Rummenigge talked about it. "You have to wait and see if you can find a base that will lead to the transfer," said the chief executive on Tuesday evening (local time) at the top of the stadium, while down on the pitch, the coach Niko Kovac prepared the team for the first match during the US trip, against Juventus Turin.

"There is currently no direct contact between the two clubs," said Rummenigge. However, he mentioned the contacts between Boateng’s managers and PSG, they should reach an agreement as well. And the Bayern boss spoke of an "acceptable" transfer fee. It should be about 50 million euros plus X. The big deal is being pushed.

Big competition in midfield

Boateng could be a first domino. France’s world champion Benjamin Pavard could possibly come one year earlier from VfB Stuttgart. In central defense, there are “enough players anyway, in terms of both quality and quantity," said Rummenigge.

Javi Martínez can also be used in the back line. That's what the coach Kovac does in preparation. "If I have to play defense, it's not a problem, I want to play, no matter on what position," said midfielder Martínez in Philadelphia.

The midfield is the largest competition zone. It's so big that President Uli Hoeneß said: "The squad is too big." Rummenigge predicts: "We have nine midfielders for three to four positions and we do not want to cause the coach any problem that he has dissatisfied players." It has to be reduced.

Vidal can also leave

A candidate to leave is Arturo Vidal. The 31-year-old Chilene is currently recuperating after a knee surgery. He could bring in more money this summer, and a club in Italy will be the goal. "Arturo has a contract for another year with us, and if he possibly wants to sign for a longer time with some club, he'll move," Rummenigge said. "We will not act on our part, but if he comes to us and he wants to leave the club, we will deal with it."

The Spanish World Cup participant Thiago (27) is according to Rummenigge not for sale. "Thiago is an important player for us and we've never even thought of him leaving the club." At the same time Rummenigge announced that the club “with some certainty” would use the option to buy the Columbian James, now on loan from Real until 2019. "We are very happy with the player." And James is "very happy" in Munich.

The young player Davies will join Bayern at the latest by the turn of the year. The offensive player still plays for Vancouver Whitecaps in Major League Soccer. Coach Niko Kovac appreciates the speed and technical skills of the teenager, who is said to cost ten million euros: "He has a great future."

Rummenigge: “Bayern are optimistic”

Bayern’s near future should also be glorious. "We are optimistic about the season, we want to win everything," declared Rummenigge. And that's why he also sent a clear message from the States to the many World Cup disappointments - from Thomas Müller to the newcomer Leon Goretzka. "You've got enough regeneration time from the coach. Now the work is in full swing. So you put that tournament behind you and show in the Bundesliga that it was an industrial accident."

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