Bayern weighed Alassane Pléa move before PSV switch — profile still fits Kompany’s blueprint

PSV CEO Marcel Brands has revealed that Bayern sporting boss Max Eberl seriously considered signing Alassane Pléa last summer before the French forward ultimately chose the Dutch giants. The admiration was clear: Eberl rated Pléa’s level and versatility, seeing him as a tactical add-on behind Harry Kane and around Jamal Musiala. While the window passed and PSV secured the deal, the profile still aligns tightly with Vincent Kompany’s 4-2-3-1/4-3-3: a flexible second striker/inside forward who presses, links, and finishes. With Bayern exploring other squad needs, a future revisit cannot be dismissed, especially if pricing and squad balance converge.

Marcel Brands publicly discussed internal transfer considerations from last summer, noting Max Eberl’s positive assessment of Alassane Pléa and the idea of bringing him to Bayern as an additional attacking option. Pléa, however, proceeded to join PSV in the same window. In parallel, Bayern’s leadership has been surveying full-back options while monitoring Alphonso Davies’ status and Raphaël Guerreiro’s role for depth planning. The context underscores Bayern’s broader squad recalibration under Vincent Kompany and PSV’s targeted acquisition of proven goal contributions and Bundesliga experience.

PSV CEO Marcel Brands reveals that Max Eberl was interested in signing Alassane Pléa last summer before the Frenchman ultimately joined the Dutch side: "He [Eberl] spoke very positively about him. He thought his level was good and considered bringing him to FC Bayern to add

@iMiaSanMia

Impact Analysis

From a squad-construction lens, Eberl’s interest in Alassane Pléa made immediate sense. Bayern’s attacking hierarchy is led by Harry Kane at No.9 with Jamal Musiala operating between lines; the missing piece at times has been a cost-efficient, tactically intelligent forward who can shuttle between second striker, wide inside channels, and false-nine duties without disrupting spacing or pressing triggers. Pléa’s Bundesliga résumé suggested precisely that: high game IQ, secure first touch, and repeatable outputs in xG+xA from hybrid positions.

For PSV, capturing Pléa provided ready-made Champions League-level experience and a stabilizing presence around younger attackers. Statistically, his shot quality selection, carry-to-shot conversion, and pressing recoveries per 90 fit Ruud van Nistelrooy/Peter Bosz-era principles of verticality and front-half regains (PSV’s sporting direction has consistently prioritized multi-phase forwards).

For Bayern, the miss nudged resources toward other pain points (full-back depth, ball progression on the right flank), but the profile Eberl admired remains relevant. If Bayern’s non-Kane goal share doesn’t scale in big games, a ‘connector-finisher’ like Pléa would raise the team’s floor in rotation-heavy stretches. Financially, PSV’s valuation trajectory could rise if his output spikes, but age and contract structure might keep any future fee within opportunistic bounds. Net-net: Bayern’s logic was sound; PSV harvested the upside sooner.

Reaction

Fan chatter split into two broad camps. One camp argued Pléa would have been an ideal, inexpensive depth piece: a flexible backup to Kane and a complement to Musiala, already acclimated to German football. Their tone emphasized practicality over glamour—“knows the league, versatile, squad value.” Several compared his prospective role to an existing rotational attacker, insisting Pléa would have offered a higher baseline and better off-ball intelligence.

The other camp pushed back, either underrating Pléa’s ceiling or admitting they were unfamiliar with his profile. Some insisted Bayern should prioritize full-backs and wide ball-progression before adding another forward. Parallel threads tracked Alphonso Davies’ return to team training and the club’s ongoing search for a Davies challenger/backup, noting Raphaël Guerreiro’s future could hinge on that outcome.

Across threads, the consensus wasn’t outrage—it was curiosity and pragmatism. Many acknowledged that while a superstar wasn’t necessary, a reliable hybrid forward matters in a 55+ game season. The overall sentiment: Pléa would have made sense; PSV acted faster; Bayern must keep options warm.

Social reactions

Would have been a nice backup to Kane(9) and Musiala(9,5). Cheap, knows the league and is versatile.

SebMinga 🇨🇿📍 (@SebMinga)

Wouldn't have been bad at all. He would've been a similar squad player like Jackson

Wohit (@Sextuple_winner)

People in the comments don't know who Plea is...

JSL (@BayernBVV)

Prediction

Short term, PSV will maximize Pléa’s hybrid usage: left half-space receiving, quick wall passes into the box, and late runs off a central reference point. Expect his output to tilt toward high-probability shots and assisted shots, with pressing triggers near the touchline to trap and spring transitions. If that nets consistent contributions in league and Europe, PSV’s stance hardens and valuation creeps up.

For Bayern, the decision tree is dynamic. If internal solutions (e.g., minutes management around Kane, Musiala’s central load, and contributions from rotational forwards) don’t cover the non-Kane goal/creation delta, they’ll revisit the market for a cost-efficient connector. Pléa’s name stays on the long list because the fit is system-first, not star-first. However, if full-back recruitment becomes urgent—contingent on Davies’ contract path and Guerreiro’s role—budget may pivot away from the front line.

Medium term, two logical scenarios emerge: Bayern test PSV’s resolve with a structured offer if price and age curve align, or Bayern pivot to a younger analogue with similar movement and link play. Either way, the template that made Pléa attractive remains a priority archetype under Kompany and the Eberl–Freund axis.

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Conclusion

The revelation that Eberl weighed a move for Pléa isn’t a missed-chance lament—it’s a window into Bayern’s model-driven targeting. The club sought an attacker who improves combinational play, sustains pressing intensity, and smooths rotation risk across a marathon campaign. PSV smartly captured that value early, betting on proven Bundesliga craft to lift their attacking floor and ceiling.

What matters now is Bayern’s adaptability. If the current mix delivers, the need softens. If it doesn’t, the market will be scanned again for the same traits that put Pléa on the radar. For PSV, the task is straightforward: optimize his strengths, protect his workload, and let outputs compound.

In essence, this was never about chasing a headline signing; it was about finding the right gear for a finely tuned machine. Bayern identified it, PSV installed it. Whether the paths cross again will depend on performance curves, squad health, and the price of certainty in the next window.