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Bayern Munich's transfer window is grinding into gear after a big move to sign Luis Diaz from Liverpool was sanctioned. Nevertheless, Didi Hamann has given a scathing assessment of the Bavarians' summer.
A hero at Liverpool for his role in the Istanbul triumph, Hamann has become known as a pundit for his blunt, no-nonsense approach. The Reds have occasionally been on the end of it, but it is Bayern that has attracted his ire on this occasion.
The move for Diaz comes after Bayern missed out on Florian Wirtz, to none other than Liverpool. And while Hamann does not necessarily have an issue with signing the Colombian, who enjoyed a good year under Arne Slot and stands every chance of succeeding in the Bundesliga, he feels that the club has been mismanaged behind the scenes.
Of course, Liverpool has been the major beneficiary of Bayern's woes. When it snatched up the gem of the Bundesliga in Wirtz, it cannot have imagined that would ultimately lead to receiving such a handsome fee for Diaz, a 28-year-old winger.
In short, missing out on Wirtz has had Bayern on the back foot all summer. Hamann believe it goes back even further:
"Bayern's problem is: Last year, many contracts were promised, like those for [Alphonso] Davies, [Jamal] Musiala, or [Joshua] Kimmich, which the supervisory board then didn't approve," Hamann explained, via Goal. "This kind of thing costs reputation!
"Bayern has communication problems; a lot of things could have been prevented if they had sat down and discussed beforehand how much money was allocated for what. And they agreed with the players, like with Wirtz and Woltemade.
"But you have to inform the other club sometimes. The question for management is whether it's worth a call to [Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon] Rolfes or [Stuttgart chairman Alexander] Wehrle.
"They found out all about it from the newspaper: all of this cost time and reputation, and ultimately money too. The next one became increasingly expensive."
Wirtz, of course, is now at Anfield, netting his first goal for the club in a friendly win over Yokohama FM. But Nick Woltemade remains a Stuttgart player.
So should Bayern now be doubling down on its other long-term target, adding Woltemade to the attack alongside Diaz? Despite bemoaning the repuational damage inflicted by this saga, Hamann is not so sure.
"There will be movement if Bayern pays an additional €60 million ($69 million)," Hamann predicted. "I wouldn't pay it.
"He's a good player, had a good year, but he wasn't even registered for the Champions League. He only knows about busy weeks from TV!
"We'll have to see how he handles the pressure. I do think he could play. But €60 million or more? This business model leads to ruin. For me, Bayern's interest would be over now."
But Bayern Munich of course has the issue that everyone knows it was ready to pay a huge sum for Wirtz. Liverpool was duly able to stand firm over the fee for Diaz, and Stuttgart can do the same when it comes to Woltemade.
Ultimately, Bayern needs the attacking reinforcements, especially after Musiala suffered a serious injury at the Club World Cup. Its very public failed pursuits (along with that piece of injury misfortune) have led it to a position where it probably just has to accept paying some major transfer premiums on its remaining targets.
Of course, a crisis at the Allianz Arena usually still involves a league title. But Hamann's brutal remarks are just another reminder of how well Liverpool has conducted itself this summer under Richard Hughes, who is proving his worth beyond all doubt after a quiet first year in the transfer market.
As well as Wirtz, Liverpool swiftly concluded deals for Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez and Hugo Ekitike, and a move for Alexander Isak could yet be in the works. Combined with its smart selling, it is acting like the big dog of the transfer market — a crown which Bayern Munich was once accustomed to wearing.
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