Category: News

Oliver Bierhoff has praised Bayern Munich for their new approach in the transfer market, while looking forward to the possible arrival of Javi Martinez at the club.

The Germany team manager, a position created when Jurgen Klinsmann coached the national side, has explained that he approves of the Bavarians’ signings.

“I like it how Bayern Munich are no longer chasing 30-year-olds who are no longer needed by their clubs, but, instead are going for players who have bright futures,” he was quoted saying by TZ-online.

The former AC Milan striker went on to laud Athletic Bilbao star Javi Martinez who fits into this category and who is reportedly nearing a switch to the Bavarian giants.

“You hear only good things about him [Martinez]. I hope the deal works out,” he concluded.

It was claimed earlier this week that the transfer of Martinez to Bayern Munich was nearing completion, however it has been reported that Martinez is now in Munich, but without the permission of the Spanish club.

Athletic Bilbao have released a statement saying that they haven’t authorised Javi Martinez to travel to Germany in order to complete his proposed transfer to Bayern Munich.

In a transfer saga that has rumbled on all summer, the German giants are desperate to clinch the deal before the transfer deadline on August 31.

On Tuesday, Martinez travelled to Munich to undergo his medical much to the lament of his club who have now announced that he was not given permission to do so.

A message on their official website reads: “Athletic Bilbao want to make everyone aware that they haven’t authorised the trip of player, Javi Martinez, to Munich on August 28. The club requests that explanations are provided by the player who remains theirs.”

Negotiations between the two clubs have not run smoothly and despite the Bavarians offer of €40 million for the player, the Basque side have still yet to agree on the fee.

Athletic Bilbao president Josu Urrutia has insisted that his club will only allow star pair Javi Martinez and Fernando Llorente to leave should their respective buy-out clauses be met.

The duo have been the subject of heated speculation over a move away from San Mames with Bayern Munich linked to the €40 million-rated midfielder, while the striker, who would cost €35m, has refused to sign a new contract.

However, the 44-year-old has reaffirmed his stance that the players will only be allowed to leave should a bid trigger the release clause in their current contracts.

“We have always said that a player can only leave the club on two conditions – either the club no longer wants the player or another club pays their buy-out clause, and neither of those conditions have been met,” Urrutia told Canal Plus.

“We have done everything in our hands. They [Llorente and Martinez] are still Athletic players and we hope that they will remain with us.

“We have not held negotiations for Llorente. We have said what we think and the rumours are of no interest to us.”

The pair were left out of the Leones squad that will travel to Helsinki for a Europa League qualifier this week but Urrutia was adamant that this does not mean they are on their way out of the club.

“We are a team and everyone is available to the coach. We never take every player to a game, we always leave one or two out.

“He [Bielsa] has chosen the players he thinks he needs and now in Thursday’s match we are going to try to make amends for the errors we made on Sunday [a 4-0 loss to Atletico Madrid].”

Despite suffering two losses from their first two league games the Basques hold a 6-0 advantage over HJK ahead of Thursday’s second leg.

Javi Martinez will complete his record-breaking €40m transfer from Athletic Bilbao to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, according to a report by Bild.

The 23-year-old has been the subject of ongoing interest from the Bavarian giants in recent months but it appears that a deal for the Spaniard has finally been struck, making him the most expensive player in Bundesliga history.

An agreement between the two sides appeared close until recently when the transfer hit a snag with a number of complications in the negotiations between the two sides.

These have now been resolved as Bayern will leave a cheque for €40m in Madrid where Martinez will go when he visits the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) to cancel his contract, so every tax and judicial issue will be solved, according to the report.

The Spain international will sign a five-year contract but has agreed to forego €2m of his salary per year, potentially making the deal €10m cheaper for Die Roten.

Martinez, along with Fernando Llorente, had been left out of the Leones squad that will face HJK Helsinki in the Europa League on Thursday.

Udo Lattek has claimed that the matchday presence of new Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer should be closely monitored.

The former sweeper replaced Christian Nerlinger earlier in the summer, having relinquished his role as technical director of the German Football Association (DFB) to work alongside head coach Jupp Heynckes in addressing first-team affairs.

However, his role during fixtures has come under scruntiny, despite the side’s winning start to the new season, with Oliver Kahn raising doubts over Sammer’s job description, and the legendary boss believes his relationship with Heynckes could prove volatile.

“There should not be any fidgeting in the dugout,” Lattek told Bild. “I like Matthias Sammer very much, but I do not know if that’s really important.

“In any case, the coach has to be recognised by the entire team. If he does not, then it will be difficult, so you have to be very careful.

“I don’t know what agreement the two share with each other, but it is very, very critical [to the club’s chances of success].”

Lattek and Sammer temporarily worked together at Borussia Dortmund in 2000, following Bernd Krauss’ unsuccessful reign at the Signal Iduna Park, and he reflected on their working relationship.

“For us, it was very simple. I was the boss and he was the one who listened,” he added.

“I’ve always said that this co-existence between Jupp Heynckes and Matthias Sammer is very hairy. Sammer is a very independent person, and Heynckes is too.

“If these two fall into problems, of whatever kind, then it will not be easy to control.”