Bayern Munich Target Top European Goalkeeper to Replace Manuel Neuer as Kompany Sets New Direction
As Manuel Neuer’s illustrious tenure with the Bavarian team draws to a close, Bayern Munich is intensifying their search for a long-term replacement.
Wanderlustsport is known that Mike Maignan, the goalie for AC Milan, one of the most reliable and comprehensive goalkeepers in European football, is one of the top names on the club’s shortlist.
Although Maignan’s contract with AC Milan expires in June 2026, negotiations to extend it have slowed down recently.
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If no deal is achieved quickly, this circumstance has created the possibility of changes next summer. In the best-case scenario for clubs interested, Maignan might even depart in 2026 as a free agent.
As we wrote in July, Chelsea, who had attempted to recruit the French custodian prior to the Club World Cup, ultimately chose to stick with Robert Sanchez as their primary custodian. However, they may make a run for Maignan if the chance presents itself.
Bayern Munich is still a possibility for the AC Milan No. 1, but other Premier League teams are also keeping an eye on the issue. Given that Neuer’s contract is coming to an end and his age is beginning to show, Bayern sees Maignan as the perfect successor.
Vincent Kompany particularly values his contemporary style and his capacity to lead the entire squad from the back.
According to SofaScore, Maignan and Neuer have relatively comparable save totals thus far this season. At an average of two saves per game, Neuer has made ten saves in Bundesliga football.
With an average of 2.3 saves per game, Maignan has made nine saves in Serie A. Maignan is not comparable to Neuer, who has long been regarded as one of the world’s greatest sweeper keepers, if not the best.
Neuer has completed 54% of long balls, 41% of passes into the opposition’s half, and 82% of his passes this season have been accurate. The overall accuracy of Maignan’s passing statistics is 71%.
He has been excellent in his own half, finding a teammate 91% of the time. However, he struggles with long balls, as only 36% of his long balls find a teammate, and only 19% of passes into the opposing half are accurate.
Due to teammates’ willingness to play past him, he also only gets 37.5 touches per game as opposed to Neuer’s 45.8.
If Maignan is signed, it means the system will need to adapt, which could hurt Bayern because they can gain an advantage over other teams with that additional option when they have the ball.
According to reports, Bayern winger Michael Olise has recently attracted the attention of both Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain.
Before it was known that Liverpool would make a much bigger bid, breaking their own British transfer record with a €150 million deal, PSG was reportedly willing to pay €100 million for him.
Aleksandar Pavlovic, a midfielder for Bayern, has acknowledged interest from Manchester United and City.
Even though Bayern attempted to sign Jurrien Timber, it has been said that they have “no chance” of doing so because Mikel Arteta is in love with the Arsenal defender and new contract negotiations are in progress.
How Signing Maignan Could Force a Tactical Rethink at Bayern Munich
Signing Maignan would force more than a simple personnel swap; it would be a philosophical shift. Bayern have built around Neuer’s ball-playing and sweeping instincts for over a decade, and replacing him is not plugging in a like-for-like body.
Maignan brings top-level shot-stopping and leadership but his weaker long passing and lower involvement in build-up means Julian Nagelsmann’s successors would have to rewire the way the team constructs attacks from the back.
That could mean more direct transitions, different full-back responsibilities and a clearer midfield drop to receive passes, small tactical tweaks that ripple through recruitment and training.
From a sporting-director perspective, the timing matters. If Milan allow Maignan to run down his contract, Bayern could be tempted to poach a proven starter without paying a premium, but risk losing a year of planning around the new man.
Conversely, securing him early would demand a sizeable outlay and force quick adaptation. Either route tests Bayern’s decision-making: choose financial prudence or buy continuity.
There’s also the human side. Neuer has been captain, poster-boy and emotional pillar handing over the No.1 shirt will need careful handling to avoid dressing-room friction.
A smooth handover requires not just a technical fit but a personality that can coexist with the club’s culture.
Maignan, by all accounts, possesses the mentality, but integrating him into Bayern’s unique pressure cooker will be as important as his distribution stats.
Bayern must weigh other targets. If they chase someone closer to Neuer’s profile, younger, more comfortable on long passes they might preserve their tactical identity.
If they opt for Maignan, expect a transitional year where structure matters more than spectacle as the club remolds itself to the next era. the choice will define Bayern’s playstyle and recruitment for seasons to come and club identity.
