News24
14 Aug 2019, 23:43 GMT+10
Munich - Bayern Munich coach Niko Kovac said Wednesday his side were still open to bringing in some fresh blood before the European transfer window closes.
"We still have to strengthen -- we still need something," Kovac told a press conference two days before Friday's Bundesliga opener at home to Hertha Berlin.
Sat alongside Kovac was compatriot Ivan Perisic, the winger Bayern captured from Inter Milan, announced on a year-long loan Tuesday.
Kovac expressed satisfaction with the arrival of Perisic.
"But we know he can get injured -- we have to be ready for this possibility. We need players to reinforce and improve the squad," he said ahead of the window shutting on September 2.
Bayern have countered the departure of Mats Hummels to title rivals Borussia Dortmund with the arrivals of French World Cup-winners Benjamin Pavard from Stuttgart and Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid.
But in attack the Bavarians have to look to fill the gaps created by the losses of Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben and James Rodriguez.
Perisic will add width alongside Serge Gnabry and Kingsley Coman, but Bayern need greater depth if they are to compete both domestically and in Europe.
Names cited in the media for more attacking oomph include Barcelona's Philippe Coutinho, RB Leipzig's Timo Werner, Steven Bergwijn of PSV Eindhoven or even Gareth Bale, who is unsettled at Real Madrid.
Kovac said such stories were mere "rumours".
Before Perisic's signing, striker Robert Lewandowski had loudly been demanding the club bring in "three players or more" as "going through a season with 13 or 14 experienced professionals will be tough".
"We have 50 to 60 matches. You mustn't just think of next week but the next three, four, five, six months. And for that we don't have enough players."
Kovac meanwhile shrugged off media claims that Croatian World Cup runner-up Perisic was a "plan B" option after reports that Bayern wanted Manchester City forward Leroy Sane, now out for the bulk of the season after sustaining a knee injury in the Community Shield.
"I too was a plan B -- and we won the double of league and cup," said Kovac in allusion to his portrayal as a second-rank option to replace veteran coach Jupp Heynckes in the hot seat.
Get a daily dose of Herald Globe news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Herald Globe.
More InformationMOSCOW, Russia: Just hours after his sudden dismissal by President Vladimir Putin, Russia's former transport minister, Roman Starovoit,...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama turned 90 on July 6, celebrated by thousands of followers in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala,...
ZAGREB, Croatia: A massive concert by popular Croatian singer Marko Perković, known by his stage name Thompson, has drawn widespread...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Elon Musk's entry into the political arena is drawing pushback from top U.S. officials and investors, as his decision...
CULVER CITY, California: TikTok is preparing to roll out a separate version of its app for U.S. users, as efforts to secure a sale...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump claimed he was unaware that the term shylock is regarded as antisemitic when he used it in...
MADRID, Spain: Liverpool footballer Diogo Jota and his younger brother, André Silva, have died in a car accident in Spain. Spanish...
New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): Former Australian fast bowler Gordon Rorke passed away at the age of 87. Rorke, known for his towering...
(Photo credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images) Masataka Yoshida is expected to be in the lineup when the Boston Red Sox try to complete...
(Photo credit: Steven Bisig-Imagn Images) After a week of angst that saw them fall out of first place in the American League East,...
(Photo credit: Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images) New York Mets outfielder Juan Soto might be trying to prove a point this week after he...
(Photo credit: Denis Poroy-Imagn Images) Luis Arraez homered in the seventh inning to break up a scoreless tie Tuesday night and...