BERLIN, April 10 (Xinhua) — Leroy Sane has unintentionally turned into the face of a striker crisis at Bayern Munich.
Leaving the pitch after 64 disappointing minutes without having delivered a goal or an assist in the Bundesliga match against Augsburg, the 26-year-old disappeared into the locker room apparently frustrated.
But the German international doesn’t seem the only one of Bayern’s front line to have lost form and efficiency.
Ahead of the second leg of a UEFA Champions League quarterfinal against Villareal this Tuesday, Bayern Munich’s strikers seem to have slipped into a goal crisis.
The 2020 treble winners seem in danger of being eliminated after having lost the first leg 1-0. The defeat came along with a poor performance, as Bayern failed to create enough chances.
Now the reigning German champions have added another poor performance in their narrow 1-0 win against Augsburg, with a late penalty from Robert Lewandowski securing three points.
While Sane’s performance drop remains a mystery for Julian Nagelsmann, teammates such as Serge Gnabry, Lewandowski and Kingsley Coman are also struggling in front of goal at present.
“I have seen more enthusiastic handshakes from him,” the Bayern coach said after Sane went directly to the locker room following five games without a goal or an assist.
Media reports assume ongoing contract negotiations might have caused unrest among Bayern’s strikers.
Gnabry has so far rejected offers by the club to extend his deal beyond the 2022-23 season. The forward is said to be disappointed by the club’s salary offer.
33-year-old Lewandowski is reportedly annoyed about reports talking of Bayern’s leaders considering signing a new, younger striker.
Media reports speak of offers from Barcelona and several other top European clubs. Over the past weeks, the Pole has expressed his disappointment about Bayern’s reluctance, as the club has failed to present offers to extend his contract.
Former Bayern defender and TV pundit Thomas Helmer assumed a financial shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Bayern’s options.
Next to Lewandowski and Gnabry, Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer’s futures also remain uncertain.
“Bayern won’t be able to offer an extension to all of them,” Helmer stated.
Recent reports speak of Bayern having reached an agreement with the Ajax pair of right-back Noussair Mazraoui and midfielder Ryan Gravenberch.
While Mazraoui’s contract with the Dutch club expires after this season, Bayern are said to be paying 28 million euros plus bonuses for Gravenberch.
Failing to reach the Champions League semifinals may increase Bayern’s difficulties in gaining further income to help keep as many of their leading players as possible.
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