With the January winter transfer window set to resume on Monday, Bayern will continue aiming to improve their team.

With defenders Kim Min Jae and Mazraoui called up to represent their respective countries, South Korea and Morroco, at the Asian Cup and AFCON tournament, Bayern will no doubt be short of options at the back. Therefore, additions have to be made ahead of the season resumption this new year.

The addition of a versatile defender remains top of the Bavarian’s to-do list. Head coach Thomas Tuchel needs at least defenders whose versatility can cut across the central defense and right-back positions effectively.

Another position of interest that could be targeted by Tuchel is the defensive midfield area. The former Chelsea manager remains in serious search of a huge tackler in the middle of the park.

Back in August, Bayern made the decision to eventually get a number six, knowing fully well Ryan Gravenberch was close to an exit at the club before finally making the move to Premier League side Liverpool.

Tuchel then had to pursue Fulham midfielder Joao Palinha. Bayern got as far as agreeing to a deal of around £65m for the Portuguese International but couldn’t complete the final details for the transfer to happen on the deadline day due to the parent club’s failure to get an instant replacement.

Now, reports suggest Tuchel has been impressed by Aleksandar Pavlovic’s improvement in the holding midfield role. However, that doesn’t justify Bayern’s need for more hands to shore up things in the midfield.

There have been links to other options, with Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi rumoured to make a possible move.

For now, Bayern might decide to shelf their plans for a second Palinha bid. They will also need to shore up the backline as they prepare for the second half of the campaign.

Akinnifesi Olumide