It’s not happening after all? Color us shocked.
A rumor emerged on Friday that Bayern Munich, despite recently signing young goalkeeper Jonas Urbig from FC Köln, was still intending to swing for Bart Verbruggen — a major Premier League talent starring for Brighton and the Netherlands national team.
From the Telegraph, as captured by @iMiaSanMia:
Bayern Munich are preparing to make a bid for Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen this summer after monitoring his stunning progress in the Premier League. The Bundesliga leaders have been assessing their long-term goalkeeper options and Verbruggen is understood to be at the top of their list if they can beat competition for him [@mcgrathmike, @TeleFootball]
However, just as quickly, Sky Sport DE journalist Florian Plettenberg shot down the report:
New rumors linking FC Bayern with Bart #Verbruggen are wide of the mark!
It‘s not new that Bayern are monitoring him, as he’s a top goalkeeper, but there are no plans to prepare an offer for him. He’s not a target for summer.
The plan remains clear: 1.) Neuer 2.) Urbig 3.) Ulreich. Peretz is set to to be loaned out to gain match experience or sold with a buyback option.
@SkySportDE
We had a whole BFW Analysis section prepared that began “OK, but, why…?”
…but Plettenberg has covered it. Verbruggen is a major talent but Bayern appears to have called its shot with Urbig — and not to mention has other coals in the fire in the form of Daniel Peretz and Alexander Nübel. Is that enough? Who knows — but with Neuer slated to return in 2025/26, the Bavarians have another year to think it through, and numerous other transfer priorities.
It’s that time of year, isn’t it? Anything can turn into a rumor for a minute.
