With Manuel Neuer facing a serious right foot tendon injury and the possibility of leaving Bayern Munich at the end of the season growing stronger, GOAL report that the club are moving to secure their goalkeeping future and assessing multiple candidates to safeguard the position.
Neuer’s injury and uncertainty over his future
Manuel Neuer injured the tendon of his right foot in the match against Mainz and has suffered a partial tear in that tendon, an issue that will keep him off the pitch for several months.
Spanish newspaper Marca report that this right foot tendon injury will rule Neuer out until the end of 2026.
Neuer is 40 years old and has spent 16 years at Bayern, and his departure at the end of the season has become a strong possibility amid renewed physical problems and growing doubts over his ability to keep playing at the highest level.
German network Sky Sport report that Bayern’s sporting management are now almost convinced Neuer will end his career at the close of the current season, after 16 years at the club.
Despite the severity of the injury and his recurring physical problems, Neuer is not considering bringing his retirement forward and hopes to recover and return to competition next year so he can finish the season before making his final decision on retirement.
Bayern prepare for the post‑Neuer era
Bayern Munich are preparing for life after Manuel Neuer and have chosen Jonas Urbig as the team’s first‑choice goalkeeper for the next phase.
The club’s management have started hunting for an experienced goalkeeper to secure the position, and several names have landed on the negotiating table.
Bayern’s management believe Jonas Urbig alone will not be enough and that the team need a goalkeeper with experience and quality who provides stability and creates strong internal competition.
Bayern are already grooming Jonas Urbig to take over the goalkeeping role in future.
Goalkeeper targets: Baumann, Leno and Karius
Oliver Baumann, currently Hoffenheim’s goalkeeper, tops Bayern Munich’s list of candidates and is favoured by Bayern’s sporting director.
Bayern Munich are also studying a move for Bernd Leno, Fulham’s goalkeeper.
Exclusive information from Sky reveals that Loris Karius has recently joined Bayern Munich’s list of goalkeeping candidates.
Both Bernd Leno and Loris Karius have previous experience on European pitches and are seen as options who could fill the backup role while giving the coaching staff reliable options when needed.
Loris Karius is 33 and currently plays for Schalke 04, where he is in his third season, and before joining Schalke 04 he had a spell with Liverpool and two seasons with Newcastle United.
German media and expert views on Neuer’s situation
The German media are described as now talking of Manuel Neuer reaching a dead end, with growing expectations that Bayern Munich are preparing to bid farewell to him.
Marcel Reif spoke about Neuer’s situation during his appearance on the Reif Live programme on the Bild channel.
He said: "If he suffers problems in the same place after 30 minutes in every match he returns to play in, then we must admit that if this problem turns into a chronic condition and continues to worsen, his professional career at this level may have reached its end."
Neuer is described as one of the greatest goalkeepers in the history of Bayern Munich and of German football.
