Bayern: How to stop the Premier League "burglars"?

When it comes to the question "How can burglars be prevented from getting into your house?" there seems to be no difference between football and daily life.

   In advance of their fifth Champions League group game against the Greek club Piraeus, German football giant Bayern Munich is doing what everyone on this planet would be doing: They are locking the doors. Their intention:  To prevent a special brand of "burglars", the English Premier League clubs, from carrying out a very special robbery, namely to steal their world class players. 

   The new strategy of the Bavarians is far from an official club strategy which is spread by official club statements to the public. Behind closed doors it seems to be clear what is keeping the club officials' minds busy. Though not official, unofficial vibes coming out of the club seem to be suggesting that Bayern's intention is to shut the doors and (transfer) windows for the Premier League clubs by giving certain top class players a huge pay rise and extend their contracts for many years, all of course containing no exit clauses.

   Behind the Bayern strategy is the fear of losing players like Thomas Mueller, Manuel Neuer, Jerome Boateng and David Alaba (and others) to "rich" Premier League clubs that can count on a presumably inexhaustible source of money when the new TV contract, worth up to 2.3 billion euros, comes into effect soon.

   To be prepared to fend off any possible challenge or offer Bayern, according to sources inside the club, is willing to guarantee his stars a substantial pay rise in addition to contract extensions, despite many of the Bayern stars already having contracts until 2018 or 2019.

   In the case of striker Thomas Mueller, contract until 2019, his annual salary will rise from 8.5 million euros to 15 million. Defender Jerome Boateng, contract until 2018, has been offered a new contract until 2021 or 2023. Neuer and Alaba are said to have similar offers and will, when signing, be among the best paid players in Munich. The flood of new contracts is expected to be a vital part Bayern's next general assembly which takes place on November 27.

   Only a few months ago Bayern rejected an offer from Manchester United and former Bayern coach Louis van Gaal which is said to have been up to 130 million euros for the German international Thomas Mueller. "Some players are without a price tag," said Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge. Bayern obviously see themselves as a buying-club rather than a selling club, at least when things fit their plans.

   After 25-year-old Toni Kroos left the club to join Spanish rivals Real Madrid in 2014 when negotiations with the world class midfielder went wrong, Bayern is said to have put too little money on the table to make Kroos stay, only midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger was allowed to leave for Manchester United for around nine million euros, after Bayern coach Pep Guardiola regarded him as not being a first choice for his team anymore. 

   The same could happen to Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso whose contract runs out as soon as after this season. Rumors talk about him moving back to Liverpool FC and their German coach Juergen Klopp. 

   On top Bayern officials are keen on spreading the news about the perfect organisation of their club next to the on time paid salary for the players, perfect arenas and saftey. 

   "As I hear from our forgein players they are impressed about what they are offered by a club by Bayern Munich," Bayern captain Philipp Lahm said. And about Guardiola's future he said: "If he should decide to leave the next world class coach will come. Bayern as a club is solid enough to stand for itself delivering unique circumstances."   

   While Bayern fans will welcome the good news when it is officially announced on November 27, they will have to wait until the current biggest threat turns into a happy end. Meaning: It will take until after the last Bundesliga game before the winter break on December 19/20 to get an answer to the future of Spanish coach pep Guardiola. Guardiola is said to be on the list of several Premier League clubs such as Manchester City, Arsenal and Chelsea. 

   So far Guardiola has refused to agree to a new (presumably two-year) contract. His current one runs out at the end of this season. Bayern CEO Rummenigge and Guardiola will begin talking after the last league game. According to rumors Bayern has offered Guardiola a two-year extension in Munich. 

   When it comes to the latest rumors there is not much hope of Bayern keeping Guardiola. Former Bayern defender and midfielder Patrick Andersson talked frankly about his last visit to Guardiola's hometown Barcelona saying that the message would be clear: "Pep Guardiola is leaving for Manchester City, everyone in Barcelona is talking about it". 

   When the game against Piraeus takes place in the Munich arena Tuesday evening, Guardiola won't speak about his future, only about winning Group F. A fifth victory in their fifth group match of the 2015/2016 Champions League campaign would secure the top of the table position.

   The duel in Munich is, due to the statistics, a final as Bayern Munich is the top dog (9 points/13:3 goals) with the Greek side Piraeus (9 points/6:6 goals) only narrowly behind.  Endi