​Bayern Munich came under heavy fire as they approached the 2025/26 season, largely due to concerns about squad depth. The attack, in particular, was seen as dangerously thin; Max Eberl himself admitted as much after Bayern’s narrow 3-2 win over Augsburg in September. It seems that Eberl and his colleagues have learned from past missteps as they head into the 2026/27 campaign—perhaps not in the way most would expect.
After bringing in Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown, Bayern’s squad feels revitalized. It may not appear as stacked as clubs like PSG, Arsenal, or Manchester City, who seem to possess almost inexhaustible depth, but Bayern’s emphasis on versatility adds layers to the squad that aren’t immediately obvious. Brown embodies this perfectly. The 23-year-old is primarily a left-back, yet he has also been deployed on the right flank and as a left midfielder. While operating across three different roles already marks him as versatile, Georg Holzner of Kicker, as cited by @iMiaSanMia, relays that Eberl envisions another potential position for Brown.
Beyond his main defensive duties, Brown is also seen as a backup option in midfield. In a press release, Max Eberl noted that Brown will broaden options in both defense and midfield, which explains why Bayern are likely to sanction the sale of Noël Aséko to Eintracht Frankfurt. The midfield is an area where depth has been questioned, especially after the exits of Leon Goretzka and Raphaël Guerreiro. That leaves only Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović, and Tom Bischof as conventional choices in the engine room. The arrivals of Saibari and Brown could help alleviate that shortage.
Although Saibari and Brown are not dedicated central midfielders, both can step into the role when needed. Saibari has previously fulfilled that function for PSV, while Brown has often drifted into central spaces for Eintracht Frankfurt, demonstrating impressive ball skills and resistance under pressure. Is another midfielder an ideal addition? Undoubtedly. Do Bayern have the financial means to make such a signing? Probably not.
Thus, deploying Brown in midfield from time to time isn’t a drastic concept. It offers a creative solution to address multiple gaps in Bayern’s squad with a single transfer.