Update: transfer agreement reached!

Bild has just reported that Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have reached an agreement on the transfer of the former BVB captain back to the Signal Iduna Park. According to the agreement, Dormund will pay a fee of €20 million plus performance-based add-ons for Hummels. Hummels will furthermore accept a salary cut of approximately €2 million per year. He currently earns roughly €12 million; in Dortmund, his salary will be just under €10 million.

For Hummels, the crucial factor is virtually guaranteed playing time. At Bayern Niklas Süle is a guaranteed starter, and new record transfer Lucas Hernandez from Atlético seems certain to take Hummels’ place.

Head coach Niko Kovac was apparently informed of Dortmund’s offer while on vacation and gave the green light. How his departure plays out at Bayern remains to be scene. Until news of Dortmund’s interest broke, it appeared that his erstwhile center-back partner Jerome Boateng was certain to leave.

Hummels to return? No replacement?

A day after reports came out stating that Dortmund would like to buy Mats Hummels back, we are beginning to hear from Bayern Munich’s side. According to Bild (paywall), Niko Kovac has given his approval for the transfer, should Bayern and Dortmund reach an agreement.

However, the question remains, what would Bayern do to replace Hummels? Bild also reports that there is no direct replacement planned if Hummels were to go. One possibility is that we see a mood-swing from Jerome Boateng. With Hummels gone, it is possible that Boateng would have more opportunities to play. After ending the season by hanging out on the bench, looking like he didn’t want to be there, Uli Hoeneß suggested that he should transfer out. However, now Bayern may need to persuade Boateng to stay. It may come down to whether his problem was that Hummels got the playing time over him.

But what happens if both Hummels and Boateng left? In that scenario, Bayern would most likely go out and buy a center-back. They have already brought in two central-defenders this summer, in Benjamin Pavard and Lucas Hernandez. The most notable center-back on the market right now is Mathijs de Ligt, who has been linked to Bayern move, although Bayern recently informed him they could not pursue him over other needs.

If Dortmund offers €30 Million for Hummels and Kovac approves of the transfer, it seems almost inevitable. Bayern has a few options to replace him. Let’s hope that everything comes together well. We wouldn’t want a transfer to our rivals to come back to bite us.

How would you like to see this story play out?