7 players who can replace Arjen Robben at Bayern Munich
Arjen Robben is considered an icon at Bayern Munich, and he has defined an era on the left wing at Bayern Munich. Robben joined the Bavarian giants from Real Madrid for €25 million in 2009.
It is safe to say that the €25 million invested in the former Dutch international has given much more in return than the money invested in him. He has helped 'FC Hollywood' win 6 Bundesliga titles, 4 German Cups and 1 Champions Leauge and was instrumental in their famous 2013-14 treble-winning campaign.
Now, at the of age 34, his career at the club is coming to an end as young and fresh talents are emerging who can challenge the speedy winger for a place in the starting eleven at the Arena Allianz.
The Bavarian giants operate very differently and efficiently in the transfer market and there is no doubt they must have started looking for replacements for the 34-year-old.
They mainly use three strategies for signing players and have had a very high rate of success.
When they feel the need to spend big on players, they do so, but not so much. They signed Javi Martinez for €40 million, Arturo Vidal for €37 million and Corentin Tolisso for €41.5 million.
They are also always in search of quality players who are available for free; they have signed players like Sebastian Rudy, Leon Goretzka and Robert Lewandoski for free.
Their most effective strategy has been buying from fellow Bundesliga clubs e.g. the signings of players like Mario Gomez, Manuel Neuer, Mario Gotze and Mats Hummels
They also make sure that players from their academy get a chance in the first team, this has seen graduates like David Alba and Thomas Muller become mainstays in the senior squad.
A player like Robben cannot be exactly replaced and the club can only get players whose playing style is similar to his.
Keeping this in mind, this is a look at 7 players who could replace him:
#7 Florian Thauvin (Olympique de Marseille)
Though he had a spell to forget at Newcastle, Thauvin has resurrected his career this season at the Stade Vélodrome with 16 goals and 10 assists this season.
He is a very good dribbler and he is blessed with plenty of pace and he can be very effective on counter attacks.
He is the third player in Europe after Lionel Messi and Neymar to have recorded double digits in goals and assists this season.
Like Robben, he is also a left- footer and likes to play on the right-hand side from where he can cut in and score goals.
If he comes to the Bundesliga, the Munich based club will not only get a dribbler but a goalscoring threat as well.
The winger is only 25 and if given the right direction he can excel and become a very vital player for any team. Given his characteristics and style of play, he can be a great replacement for Robben.