​According to a report from Kicker journalist Georg Holzner, as cited by @iMiaSanMia, Bayern Munich is preparing to grant fans what they were clamoring for last season: a significantly larger role for midfielder Tom Bischof. The 19-year-old moved from Hoffenheim to Bayern Munich last summer and, throughout the previous campaign, frequently found himself deployed out of his natural position at left-back or right-back. That was largely due to the midfield dominance of Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka, Aleksandar Pavlović, and Raphaël Guerreiro, who occupied the majority of the minutes in Bayern’s engine room.
Now, however, Bischof appears poised to become a central figure within the squad under Vincent Kompany. He is viewed as the player who stands to gain the most from the exits of Leon Goretzka and Raphaël Guerreiro. Bischof is expected to assume Goretzka’s role as a third midfielder, while also preserving the versatility that made Guerreiro valuable—namely, his capacity to slot in at left-back or in attacking positions when needed. In effect, Bischof would be covering the gap left by two departing players simultaneously, while also earning ample playing time.
With Noël Aséko Nkili likely bound for Eintracht Frankfurt and David Santos Daiber still unproven and returning from injury, Bischof has a clearer path to regular minutes than he did last season. As Kimmich enters another year of aging, and Pavlović’s disappointing World Cup performance raised questions, the door could open for Bischof to seize the opportunity and demonstrate his abilities. Reports suggest Bischof was deeply upset by his exclusion from the German national team. After a May 2025 call-up based on his performances at Hoffenheim, many expected him to secure a spot on the World Cup squad following his transfer to Bayern.
Even after a year immersed in Bayern Munich’s high-intensity training environment and contributing to a world-class side, then-Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann chose players such as Pascal Groß, Felix Nmecha, Assan Ouédraogo, and Nadiem Amiri. While Amiri delivered some useful moments as a substitute, Groß struggled, Nmecha faded in the final two matches and contributed to conceding two key goals, and Ouédraogo never managed to get off the bench. In light of Nagelsmann’s more limited reliance on outside-backs, Bischof’s own developing skills at left-back might have provided additional value to the squad.
Looking ahead, this could be Bayern Munich’s moment—and Germany’s—as they assess whether Bischof can live up to the early buzz surrounding him as a prized talent. The coming season may reveal whether he evolves into the decisive midfielder many expected him to become, or if he remains on the cusp of realization, awaiting the breakthrough that supporters and analysts alike have been awaiting for some time.