German powerhouse Bayern Munich look set to sign Real Madrid’s Dutch winger Arjen Robben with the transfer window set to close next week.
The 25-year-old winger has been linked to a Bayern team which has so far struggled to their worst Bundesliga start in 43 years having taken just two points from their first three games and were humbled 2-1 by minnows Mainz on Saturday.
Real’s president Florentino Perez confirmed the deal on Spanish radio on Thursday and the Dutchman looks set to join Munich in a deal worth 25 million euros (US$36 million). However Bayern spokesman Markus Hoerwich refused to confirm the transfer and said that transfers to Bayern Munich are only confirmed by them and transfers are only announced after they have done their homework.
Bayern team manager Uli Hoeness has hinted there may be more transfers before the deadline on August 31 while Robben looks set to struggle for first team football in Madrid after the arrival of Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer.
Robben’s arrival would complement Bayern’s play-maker Franck Ribery and give the German giants more options in attack, but their Dutch coach Louis van Gaal says he letting Munich’s bosses Hoeness and Karl-Heinze Rummenigge look after any transfers.
The manager said that he still does not have influence on who Bayern buy and that he has not yet got the team to buy into his philosophy.