Most all is well for Bayern these days as they’re sitting pretty at the top of the Bundesliga table, 11 points clear of second-place Vfl Wolfsburg, and they’re riding high in the Champions Leagues following a 7-0 drubbing of Shakhtar Donetsk to advance past the quarter-finals. However, in the background looms a potential challenge with Xabi Alonso. While he’s a favorite of coach Pep Guardiola, the truth is that he’s been a little too adamant about playing him. He’ll eventually have to be replace him either by choice or out of necessity. He’d be wise to make the move sooner than later as he’s been choking up the midfield at times. So looking ahead, here are five possible replacements for Alonso.
Thiago Alcantara
You have to start with Alcantara, who started at Barcelona in 2005 when he was 14 years old. Guardiola began managing him in 2007 and then brought him to Bayern with him when he moved to Germany. Alcantara hasn’t played this season because of a knee injury that he suffered last year. The recovery has been slowed due to a setback but Bayern has enough talent in the midfield that Alcantara, who turns 24 in April, can take his time and get completely healthy before he returns to the pitch. He is close to Alonso, shares many of the same qualities in terms of passing range and he knows how Guardiola likes to play. There are a lot of similarities there that could make the transition a smooth one.
Ilkay Gundogan
Gundogan makes the list because he plays for Borussia Dortmund, which has become something like a feeder club for Bayern in recent years. The 24 year old missed most of last season with a back injury and has had some other problems this season, but he is a quality player. He has an eye for a great passes, which is exactly what Bayern needs. They have plenty of talent around, so a facilitator in the midfield is ideal. Although, he might have to reign in his willingness to go forward a little bit, which is normal of a younger player.
Cesc Fabregas
Fabregas comes from a long line of great Spanish midfielders such as Alonso, Xavi and Andres Iniesta. Like his fellow countrymen, he has learned a lot from playing with the international team – especially the latter two players at Barcelona. But now he is at Chelsea where he pulls the strings and while he plays more of an advanced role like Iniesta, Fabregas turns 28 in May and as he gets older, he might prefer to sit back a little and dictate play from a deeper position. Of course, it would take a lot to pry him from Chelsea. They have Fabregas under contract until 2019, but contracts and money mean nothing in soccer. You never know what’s going on in Jose Mourinho’s head and after another loss in the Champions League with Chelsea, he might be open to some changes. If Bayern walk up with an open checkbook, they’ll be tough to turn down.
Luka Modric
When Modric is healthy and on his game, he is a fantastic passer of the ball. Bayern can surround him with so much talent and he would be a strong asset in the middle of the field. But he can also play anywhere in the middle of the pitch, so he could provide some much-needed versatility.
He has been injured recently and it’s visible that Real Madrid isn’t quite the same without him (or when he’s not 100%). That’s a telling sign as to what he can bring to the table. At 29, and turning 30 in September, he is another player that might decide to play deeper in a year or two. That could make him a good option for Bayern along with the fact that Guardiola is surely familiar with him from the Barca-Madrid rivalry. The Croatian international would be an excellent replacement for Alonso, whom he played alongside at Madrid.
