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Bayern Munich: 5 possible replacements for Mats Hummels

By Kevin Parvizi

BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 25: Mats Hummels of Bayern Muenchen lifts the trophy in celebration with team mates after the DFB Cup final between RB Leipzig and Bayern Muenchen at Olympiastadion on May 25, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY - MAY 25: Mats Hummels of Bayern Muenchen lifts the trophy in celebration with team mates after the DFB Cup final between RB Leipzig and Bayern Muenchen at Olympiastadion on May 25, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts/Getty Images) /
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LEIPZIG, GERMANY – MAY 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Ibrahima Konate of RB Leipzig is focused in the player tunnel prior to the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and FC Bayern München at Red Bull Arena on May 11, 2019 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Oliver Hardt/Bundesliga/DFL via Getty Images )
LEIPZIG, GERMANY – MAY 11: (EDITORS NOTE: Image has been digitally enhanced.) Ibrahima Konate of RB Leipzig is focused in the player tunnel prior to the Bundesliga match between RB Leipzig and FC Bayern München at Red Bull Arena on May 11, 2019 in Leipzig, Germany. (Photo by Oliver Hardt/Bundesliga/DFL via Getty Images ) /

RB Leipzig CB Ibrahima Konate

It’s hard to envision Ibrahima Konate leaving RB Leipzig any time soon, and it’s even harder to envision Leipzig selling one of their best players to Bayern Munich. Die Roten already seem to be poised to sign Timo Werner in free agency next year despite Leipzig’s efforts to keep the star striker, so it would be horrible for the third-placed Roten Bullen to sell any star center back to the Bundesliga champions.

That said, Bayern should do their due diligence and attempt to sign Konate, because he is one of the best players at his position in the world. There’s been so much attention paid to Matthijs de Ligt this summer — and rightfully so. The Ajax center back is one of the world’s best.

However, Konate set the Bundesliga ablaze this past season as the best defender on the league’s best defensive team, and he’s just 20 years old. Like de Ligt, Konate can be one of the world’s best for years to come.

Konate is an incredibly intelligent defender who reads the game well and rarely puts a step wrong despite his youth. Since breaking into Leipzig’s starting lineup, Konate has been an indispensable part of it. His partnership with Willi Orban is the envy of every other Bundesliga club. Konate is strong in the air, quick to recover from any mistakes, a strong passer and capable of putting elite strikers like Robert Lewandowski in his back pocket.

Again, it’s hard to see Leipzig being willing to part ways with Konate at anything other than an outrageous price, but he’s such a quality player that he has to be on Bayern’s radar. Konate would be a tailor-made replacement for Mats Hummels, and based on last season’s play alone, he’d actually be a significant upgrade on the long-time Germany starter.

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