By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Nov 17. (Xinhua) -- Currently no other German club seems to be in a similar turmoil as Bayern Munich. No week passes without new reports coming to light talking about misbehaving players or critics about coach Niko Kovac.
Fans puzzle over the clubs action's to fight the crisis. Does the club follow the pattern of 2012 when the side had lost the race for the German title against Borussia Dortmund? Six years ago Bayern tackled the challenge by huge investments and a radical change of their squad.
While disappointment around the Bavarians is growing after the teams' poor performance in the national league has president Uli Hoeness now increase the pressure on the Bavarians' established stars.
The Bayern Munich president announced fundamental changes in the 2018 reigning German Champions squad as early as next summer.
As the Nuremberg based sports-magazine Kicker is reporting at least 200 million Euros will be invested by the 2013 treble winners to sign new faces.
Hoeness' interference is described as the club's attempt to restore discipline among the unsteady squad and prove the club's sovereignty.
During the past weeks, Bayern players seemed to have lost control as several golden agers oppose rejuvenation plans.
Apparently, the Bayern president sees the necessity to support under fire coach Kovac who is in trouble dealing with his many unhappy stars such as Frank Ribery, Arjen Robben, Thomas Mueller, Mats Hummels, and James Rodriguez.
Hoeness emphasized the club's reaction will depend on the teams' performance of the upcoming months. "It depends on their performance," the former German international commented. The decision has been made to increase the competition in the squad.
Established performers need to improve their mentality, the 1974 World Champion emphasized.
Bayern's bosses told their players "they are under surveillance over the next month." The club would decide "who is still around and who is of value for us" as Hoeness put it.
To ease the current tensions seems a real challenge.
Recently Franck Ribery caused further unrest as reports spoke about his dispute with a French football reporter. The 35-year-old winger is said to have slapped the reporter before Ribery apologized after an emergency meeting with club officials.
Others such as James Rodriguez complained in public about not getting enough playing minutes under 47-year-old Kovac. "This is not Frankfurt," James said according to several media reports indicating Bayern is a size too big for the former Eintracht Frankfurt coach.
The Kicker reports Bayern will most likely not use its buying option for the on-loan striker from Real Madrid (until 2019). The Bavarians could sign the Columbian star for 42 million Euros, but apparently, things have changed, and James is expected to leave after this season.
But James and Ribery are not the only ones causing unrest.
Thomas Mueller's wife Lisa complained in a social media channel about Kovac after her husband has lost his place in the starting eleven.
Several media speak of a significant "speed problem" detected by the club leaders as coach Kovac is said to have increased training efforts regarding the teams running figures.
Meanwhile, new faces emerge on the horizon.
French 2018 World Champion Benjamin Pavard is said to have already agreed on a deal for the 2019/2020 season as the defender is joining in for 35 million from VfB Stuttgart.
Leverkusen midfielder Kai Havertz (19) is said to be on the Bavarians list as well as Frankfurt's Serbian striker Luka Jovic (20) and Arsenal's Welsh midfielder.
