Bayern weaken Dortmund

BERLIN. — Bayern Munich’s dual signings of Renato Sanches and Mats Hummels on Tuesday managed to simultaneously strengthen their Champions League soccer challenge while potentially weakening Borussia Dortmund for next season’s Bundesliga campaign.

Eleven days before Bayern face Dortmund in the German Cup final in Berlin, the Bavarian giants announced they have signed Germany centre-back Hummels from the only club to challenge them domestically this season.

The 27-year-old is the third big-name Bayern has lured from Dortmund in three years after Mario Goetze in 2013 and Robert Lewandowski in 2014.

Dortmund were already battling to keep defensive midfielder Ilkay Gundogan, linked to Manchester City, and Chelsea-target Henrikh Mkhitaryan, while striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is being courted by Europe’s top clubs.

Now they have lost their captain.

The Dortmund defence will cope without Hummels, but he is just one more name who has walked out in the direction of Munich.

Less than 40 minutes after Bayern announced they had signed teenage talent Sanches from Benfica for 35 million euros, the Hummels deal was confirmed after weeks of speculation.

The double signings show Bayern’s intent to win the Champions League for the sixth time.

The Bavarians are smarting from last week’s defeat to Atletico Madrid, their third straight exit to Spanish opposition at the semi-final stage in Europe.

Hummels hastily left the Dortmund training ground 20 minutes after his transfer was announced.

“After eight-and-a-half years here, it was not an easy decision to make,” he said in a statement on the club’s website.

“I was always proud to wear the Borussia Dortmund shirt and be part of this exceptional team.

“Before I return to my hometown, we all have the big goal of bringing the German Cup trophy to Dortmund.

“For that I will give my all”.

Having grown up in Munich and come up through Bayern’s youth academy, Hummels is simply returning to the club he left Dortmund for, on loan, in 2008.

The 4,2m euros ($4,7 million) Dortmund later paid for him in 2009 is dwarfed by the 38 million Bayern will reportedly pay to sign him back.

It’s a similar fee to the 37 million euros Goetze cost three years ago before Lewandowski left on a free transfer. Hummels returns as a World Cup winner. — AFP.