In recent weeks it has become increasingly likely that Leon Goretzka will not have a future at Vincent Kompany’s Bayern Munich. The German midfielder was not even a part of the squad that beat SSV Ulm 4-0 in Kompany’s first appearance in the DFB Cup first round, a clear indication of where he currently stands at the club. Furthermore, it has emerged that during the team’s short Audi summer tour in South Korea, sporting director Max Eberl told Goretzka that he was not in Kompany’s plans for next season.
According to new information from the Sueddeutsche Zeitung (via @iMiaSanMia), both Atletico Madrid and SSC Napoli are interested in signing Goretzka this summer, but his high salary is currently an issue for both clubs. Both managers Diego Simeone and Antonio Conte are looking to sign a central midfielder for their respective clubs, but Goretzka’s annual salary of up to 18 million euros would be prohibitive for either club. This is too high a price to pay and would disrupt the balance sheets of both teams.
Simeone and Atletico thought they had all but sealed the signing of Conor Gallagher from Chelsea, but the move was dependent on the Stamford Bridge side securing the transfer of Sam Omorodion. Omorodion’s move did not materialise as expected, leaving Gallagher in a transfer limbo. Previously, Gallagher had travelled to Madrid before the proposed transfer was made and waited there for five days, waiting for the deal to be finalised. No deal has been agreed yet, leaving Goretzka as their other option.
For Napoli, their opening Serie A defeat to Hellas Verona highlighted the need for quality in the squad and Goretzka is a player they have been keeping an eye on, with the losses of both Diego Demme and Piotr Zielinski doing little to help Conte’s midfield as they look to shake off the rust that was left after finishing 10th in Italy’s top flight last season, just one season after winning the Scudetto.
The move could also save Goretzka’s prospects of returning to Julian Nagelsmann’s Germany squad – he missed the Euros and manager Rudi Völler recently pleaded with the midfielder to move somewhere he could play regularly to improve his chances of breaking into the national team.