Massive Williams agreement leaves FC Bayern in a state of dismay
In a heated transfer saga, Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart find themselves at odds over the potential signing of striker Nick Woltemade. The Bavarian giants have reportedly reached personal terms with the 22-year-old French national player, offering him a lucrative contract until 2030 with a base salary of €7.5 million per year, potentially rising to €10-11 million annually with bonuses.
Currently under contract with Stuttgart until 2028, without a release clause, Woltemade's current salary stands at approximately €1.5 million per year. Stuttgart's extension offer falls short at around €2.5 million annually, leaving a significant gap for Bayern to exploit.
While Stuttgart has publicly expressed their desire to keep Woltemade, they may be persuaded to sell for a fee estimated around €60 million. However, the club's management has expressed frustration over the high sums being discussed, highlighting their budget constraints and reluctance to spend excessively.
Meanwhile, Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams, who was previously mentioned as a potential transfer target for Bayern, has signed a long-term contract extension, taking him out of the discussion. Williams, who is Basque and only plays for Athletic Bilbao due to the club's rule of only fielding Basque players, has agreed to a ten-year deal.
Paris Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique has been asked about the future of offensive player Bradley Barcola, who is reportedly on FC Bayern Munich's candidate list. Enrique expressed a desire to keep Barcola in Paris for a few more years, stating that he is an important player in their squad.
Jan-Christian Dreesen, CEO of FC Bayern, has stated that Woltemade is a player of VfB Stuttgart, and that the club is willing to release him for a very high transfer fee in the double-digit million range. However, Dreesen has also commented that the ten-year term of Williams' contract extension at Athletic Bilbao is a statement, suggesting that Bayern may not be actively pursuing him anymore.
As the transfer market heats up, many players find themselves in demand. Enrique has stated that they are unsure about the transfer market, while Dreesen mentioned that Williams was reportedly in the discussion for FC Barcelona, but it seems that he is no longer in the discussion for FC Bayern.
In this complex transfer saga, both Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart are leveraging their respective advantages. Bayern is hoping to lure Woltemade with a substantially better financial package, while Stuttgart remains firm on a high transfer valuation to keep control over the striker’s future.
The community policy of Bayern Munich, revolving around attractive financial packages, could potentially sway Nick Woltemade towards the Bavarian giants, given the large salary increase on offer. Meanwhile, sports like football and others could provide alternative employment options for Woltemade, if negotiations with Bayern don't meet Stuttgart's employment policy, which is firm on a high transfer fee for the striker's transfer.
