Tuchel's Bayern Munich want surprise Premier League striker

Stuart Telford

• Updated: 23 May 2023 08:37 CDT
• 3 min read

Bayern Munich have been linked with a move for Harry Kane, but they are more likely to sign his England teammate Ollie Watkins, according to reports.

Thomas Tuchel has identified a top-level striker as a priority signing since succeeding Julian Nagelsmann as Bayern coach, the club having struggled to replace Robert Lewandowski, who left for Barcelona in a €50 million deal last summer.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting has performed admirably in the Pole's absence, but the perennial German champions are second in the Bundesliga and got knocked out of the Champions League at the quarter-final stage, and more firepower is needed.

READ: Chelsea and Bayern Munich set for blockbuster summer transfer swap

Kane has long been identified as a top target in Bavaria, but with Manchester United and Chelsea also keen to secure the Tottenham Hotspur man's signature this summer, he could prove to be prohibitively expensive.

Bayern have now switched their focus.

— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) April 30, 2023

Bayern 'have watched' Watkins

"Bayern Munich have had Ollie Watkins watched as part of their search for a new striker this summer," report the Mirror. "Bayern had a scout at Villa’s home game with Fulham on Tuesday, although the only goal was scored by Watkins' team-mate Tyrone Mings."

Watkins may have drawn a blank on Tuesday but he has scored 14 goals in the Premier League, adding six assists from his 32 games. He also has two goals in seven caps for England, having first been called up in 2021.

READ: Arsenal monitoring Ollie Watkins ahead of summer transfer window

Watkins is valued at €46.2m by FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm and still has two years to run on his contract at Villa Park, so Bayern will likely have to pay up if they want to sign him - although it will still be a significant saving on the €100m-plus Spurs chairman Daniel Levy wants for Kane.

Unai Emery would rather sign than sell strikers this summer, however.

"With Watkins, we're happy now, he's progressing," he said. "We want to keep him. But, as well, if we can add another striker to play with him or to play in different competitions, it's the idea."