Bayern Munich’s long-held hopes of signing Bayer Leverkusen gem Florian Wirtz appear to have fallen apart completely.
Arne Slot’s vision outshone Vincent Kompany’s plan for the player who now looks destined to sign for Liverpool this summer.
As such, the Bavarian giants are looking at other ways they can bolster the left flank.
Intriguingly, the Reds’ Cody Gakpo has been linked with a move to Munich. But Bayern are also reportedly keen on AC Milan’s Rafael Leao.
Bayern preparing first Rafael Leao bid
There’s a very real possibility that FC Bayern will have no choice but to reinforce the left wing this summer.
The future of current starter Leroy Sane is in question. Ever-linked Arsenal are, in fact, understood to have already opened talks with the player’s agent, Pini Zahavi.
Bayern have held talks themselves over a contract extension for the Germany international. However, each passing day only brings the former Manchester City man closer to free agency.
It would seem Vincent Kompany’s men are anticipating this reality, if one report from Nicolo Schira is on the money. The journalist claimed on X (formerly Twitter) that the Bundesliga champions are readying a ‘first official bid’ for Leao.
🚨 Excl. – #BayernMunich pushing to try to sign Rafa #Leao. Bayern are ready to submit to #ACMilan the first official bid in the next days. #transfers
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) June 4, 2025
How does Leao compare to Leroy Sane?
One thing that should be made immediately clear is that Bayern Munich will be missing out on positional versatility.
Where Leroy Sane is capable of playing across both flanks (and has in the 2024/25 season), Leao is rigidly fixed to the left wing.
| Players | Games played at LW | Games played at RW |
| Leroy Sane | 20 | 25 |
| Rafael Leao | 49 | 0 |
* Positional stats in the 2024/25 season courtesy of Transfermarkt
One other point of concern will be the Portuguese international’s productivity in front of goal.
The forward registered fewer goals (8) in the Seria this term compared to Sane’s 11 in the Bundesliga. This does balance out with assists, but Rafael Leao did overperform his xA (by two), which runs almost identically to his Bayern counterpart.
| Players | xG | Goals | xA | Assists | Big chances created |
| Rafael Leao | 7.25 | 8 | 6.2 | 8 | 10 |
| Leroy Sane | 10.23 | 11 | 6.12 | 5 | 10 |
So, from an offensive standpoint, FC Bayern would be signing at least a slightly weaker option on the left flank.
At only 25 years of age, of course, there is plenty of reason to be hopeful that Leao has a higher ceiling to reach.
The Bayern Insider: Munich fears Liverpool in Florian Wirtz transfer poker
