Alphonso Davies’ tenure with Bayern Munich is increasingly uncertain.
Despite Bayern Munich’s efforts to persuade Davies to remain in Munich, recent indications suggest that the Canadian left-back is requesting an exorbitant annual salary of €20 million. This figure would position Davies among the top five earners at Bayern, just below Harry Kane, Manuel Neuer, and Thomas Müller, and on par with Leroy Sané.
Given Davies’ relatively inconsistent performance over the past two seasons, Bayern may be hesitant to offer him a lucrative contract. With Real Madrid showing interest in the 23-year-old, Bayern might already have identified his potential replacement. The identity of this replacement is noteworthy.
According to Florian Plettenberg, Theo Hernández—brother of former Bayern Munich record transfer Lucas Hernández—has emerged as one of Bayern’s leading candidates to succeed Alphonso Davies.
In terms of quality, Bayern would find it challenging to secure a better replacement for the former Vancouver Whitecaps player.
This season, Hernández has recorded 0.24 non-penalty expected goals plus expected assists (npxG + xAG), 3.73 shot-creating actions, 3.35 progressive carries, and 1.68 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes. In comparison, Davies has achieved 0.13 npxG + xAG, 3.68 shot-creating actions, 5.36 progressive carries, and 3.49 tackles and interceptions per 90 minutes.
While some may argue that Bayern already possesses the world’s best left-back in Davies, Hernández’s statistics suggest that the two players are comparable, with Hernández demonstrating slightly higher offensive productivity and Davies exhibiting greater defensive efficiency.
Another noteworthy aspect is the valuation of the two players. Florian Plettenberg has implied that Bayern values Davies in the range of €50-€60 million. If Bayern were to secure the maximum €60 million, Hernández’s estimated price tag of €60-€70 million would not pose a significant obstacle for Die Rekordmeister.
While it would be regrettable to see Alphonso Davies depart from Bayern Munich, if his commitment to the club is questionable, it may be in the best interest of all parties to pursue separate paths.
In summary, although retaining Davies may appear straightforward for Bayern, his inconsistent performances, high salary demands, and control over his future may prompt the club to explore alternative options for the left-back position. Internally, Theo Hernández is considered a prime candidate for Davies’ replacement and, based on this season’s statistics, could prove to be a more than adequate successor.