OLIVER KAHN HELPS FLICK EXTEND DEAL

Bayern Munich executive board member Oliver Kahn has revealed the role he played in ensuring the coach Hansi Flick extended his contract. With the German football legend set to take over as Chairman and CEO by the end of next year when Karl-Heinz Rummenigge exits, he was particular about having a smooth admission to the top job.

Flick has helped Bayern rise to the top of the Bundesliga again. He has done a good job managing the players, push for more game time from various quarters, the egos, the management and doing well on the continent. His new deal will keep him with the club until 2023, as per reports.

The former goalkeeper said he was the intermediary between Flick and the club sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic aka Brazzo. He also confirmed that since his appointment to the board he has been interfacing with the club front office as regards planning and contract issues. This has resulted in Flick, wonderkid Alphonso Davies and senior squad players Manuel Neuer and Thomas Muller agreeing to extensions.

Kahn noted that Flick and Salihamidzic had different ideas about transfer policies. The coach wanted the right to veto transfer decisions before he could agree to an extension. Flick made other requests, but Kahn was the middleman to ensure a balance. During the winter window, Flick wanted to add fresh legs as injury concerns were mounting but Salihamidzic said no, arguing that it would be difficult to find the best legs during that period. Brazzo and Flick had different opinions regarding signing Timo Werner, Leroy Sane and Kai Havertz, per Kahn, who keeps on mediating.

For now, Kahn is trying to ensure the club ties down assets such as David Alaba, Thiago Alcantara etc. Bayern would also make some changes in the summer market with Sane likely to join.