Bayern Munich sporting director Max Eberl has revealed why the Bundesliga club abandoned pursuit of two of Europe's most coveted wingers during the summer transfer window. Both Bradley Barcola and Anthony Gordon opted for moves elsewhere, with the former joining Liverpool for £123 million and the latter signing with Barcelona for £69 million. Eberl's candid admission sheds light on the financial constraints that forced Bayern to step aside from the competition.
Eberl's Long History with Barcola
The Bayern sporting director has known Barcola since their time together at RB Leipzig, where Eberl previously managed. Speaking to Sport Bild, Eberl explained the foundation for their professional relationship: "To be honest, I already know Bradley from my time at Leipzig. I wanted to bring him to Leipzig. We sat down together and discussed it back then. That's how I developed a closer relationship with Bradley."
Despite this personal connection and years of mutual respect, the financial barrier proved insurmountable. When asked about the £123 million fee Liverpool paid to secure Barcola's services, Eberl was direct: "When you hear about sums like that, it was too much for us." He drew a comparison to Bayern's own ambitious signings, noting that their acquisition of Luis Diaz had been substantial but operated on an entirely different financial scale than what Liverpool invested in the French international.
Gordon Deal Fell Through on Price Tag Alone
The situation mirrored Bayern's approach to Gordon, who transferred from Newcastle United to Barcelona. Eberl admitted straightforward interest: "It's no secret that we were interested in Anthony Gordon for the left wing. We decided we were not doing that because he was simply too expensive." This pragmatic decision reflected Bayern's broader fiscal strategy under Vincent Kompany's management.
Barcola's move to Liverpool made him the second-most expensive signing in the club's history, trailing only Alexander Isak's record transfer. The 24-year-old winger, who spent four seasons with Paris Saint-Germain and won two Champions League titles, has already made appearances for the Reds, including a Champions League clash against Atletico Madrid. Bayern's inability to compete financially forced the club into a significant squad overhaul, bringing in replacements like Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown while sanctioning multiple departures to balance their accounts. The transfer saga underscores the growing gulf between elite English clubs and their Continental counterparts in the transfer market.
