The Vancouver Whitecaps are reportedly closing in on a big name.
It feels too good to be true. This feels like a fever dream or something that would happen in EA FC’s Career Mode or Football Manager. But it seems to be reportedly close.
Bayern Munich and Germany legend Thomas Muller is reportedly close to a deal with the Whitecaps. It feels like a pipe dream, but it is close to reality.
Manuel Veth of Transfermarkt has reported that the Whitecaps and Muller have already agreed to terms. However, the only thing standing in the way of the deal is the Discover Rights.
FC Cincinnati hold Muller’s Discovery Rights. For those that don’t know what that is, it means Cincinnati called first dibs on him. However, Vancouver must pay Cincinnati to acquire Muller’s Discovery Rights for the deal to go through. Sounds dumb, right? Well, it’s MLS.
It looks like the deal is progressing. However, a deal is not done until it is done and it is still possible it could collapse after this article is published.
Cincinnati reportedly wants more than $400,000 for Muller’s Discovery Rights. That is because they want more than what the LA Galaxy paid Charlotte FC for Marco Reus’ Discovery Rights last year.
But just hearing Muller’s name being heavily linked to the Whitecaps is a pinch-me moment for their fans. Unlike links to Olivier Giroud and Eden Hazard years ago, there is fire beyond the smoke. Transfermarkt gives Vancouver a 75% chance of signing Muller.
Muller signing for the Whitecaps would be like the Oasis reunion; it felt impossible, but it happened.
Muller as a DP? Doesn’t look like it, at least for this season.
Now the question is, how will Muller fit within the Whitecaps wage structure and MLS salary cap? The obvious answer is making him a Designated Player alongside Ryan Gauld and Andres Cubas.
However, Veth has reported that Muller won’t be a DP, at least for the rest of this season. Whitecaps Sporting Director and CEO Axel Schuster said on the Sekeres and Price show last week that the club was sticking with the two DP and four U22 model.
It seems Muller could be a Max-TAM player, just like Reus is with LA Galaxy and what Gareth Bale was for LAFC.
If the deal goes through, it would be interesting to see what the salary for Muller is. Also, if the plan is to make Muller a DP next season, that could mean two things. The Whitecaps could either switch to the three DP model or could stick with the current two DP model and buy down the contract of Cubas, making him a Max-TAM player.
Bogert and Jacobs reported on Monday afternoon that Muller will indeed not be a DP in 2025, but will be in 2026 and it seems the deal is inching closer.
How Muller fits into the Whitecaps
As exciting as the idea of Muller coming to Vancouver is, does he fit with the Whitecaps?
He needs no introduction. Muller is one of modern soccer’s greatest midfielders, a World Cup winner, a two-time Champions League winner and a 13-time Bundesliga winner. He has scored 250 goals and tallied 276 assists in 756 appearances for Bayern Munich since he made his senior debut in the 2008-09 season.
Muller is also known as the Raumdeuter, a term he pretty much invented. Raumdeuter, in simple English terms, means “space interpreter.”
Muller was never a fast player or a physical one. He was never known for his dribbling, strength or scoring beautiful goals either. But what made him so great? His ability to find and exploit space.
What made Muller so special over the years was his tactical intelligence and spatial awareness. He has found and exploited space in and around the final third with Bayern Munich and the German national team. His intelligence, spatial awareness and excellent anticipation made him score goals and assist his teammates. Muller is known for being at the right place at the right time.
Muller’s position was hard to define because he had the freedom to roam. Depending on the situation, Muller would be in different areas of the pitch.
So, how would the Raumdeuter fit into the Whitecaps? And does this move make sense?
For starters, the Whitecaps still need midfield help after Pedro Vite’s departure to Pumas. They did bring in Kenji Cabrera, a winger and a midfielder from Peru. However, he is still a project.
Despite the Whitecaps being one of the top goal-scoring teams in MLS this season, they lack effectiveness in the final third, especially over the last month. Particularly in the last game against Sporting Kansas City, they could have won that game 5 or 6-0.
Jesper Sørensen’s possession-based and counter-pressing system with quick transitions has worked well with Vancouver. He has typically had the Whitecaps play in a 4-3-3 formation. For Muller, he has been typically deployed as a second striker or a central attacking midfielder behind the striker.
In a 4-3-3 formation, Muller would have to play as a forward or as a right-winger. (He has played 223 games as a right-winger.) But in order for Muller to use his strengths with the Whitecaps, a 4-2-3-1 formation works best. That was the typical formation played during his time at Bayern Munich. Given Sørensen’s pragmatism and the fact that he doesn’t favour one specific formation, it is possible he could go to that.
Ideally, Muller would be behind Brian White with a healthy Gauld and healthy Ali Ahmed or Emmanuel Sabbi and Jayden Nelson on his two sides. Andres Cubas and Sebastian Berhalter would be behind him in the midfield.
Here is what the Whitecaps could look like with Muller and with Gauld and Ahmed both healthy, as it seems the two are inching closer to returning from injuries.
This way, the Whitecaps can keep their fundamentals and use Muller’s strengths to put more goals in the back of the net. It would work in transition and the build-up.
Does Muller still have gas left in the tank?
Now, here is the drawback.
Muller will turn 36 on September 13. As it is widely known, Father Time catches up to everyone, even great players. Muller would be more prone to injuries and fatigue. In a league where there is a ton of travel, and the Whitecaps being the team in MLS that travels the most, his minutes would have to be managed. Fortunately, even in a potential 4-2-3-1 system, Cabrera can also play CAM, so he and Muller can switch.
With his age, his pace declines too. Again, Muller was never known for his pace, but it would not be a good look if he struggles to keep up with the Whitecaps quick transitions. Oh yeah, there is the whole issue with BC Place’s turf too.
He played the least amount of minutes in his career last season with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. He played 1,225 minutes in 30 appearances. 12 of those were starts, the lowest of his career. Muller only scored one goal and tallied four assists in the Bundesliga last season and had an expected goals rate of 3.8 and an expected assists rate of 2.9. Again, the lowest numbers of his career.
Could it work? What would it mean for the club and the city?
It has become common for MLS clubs to sign aging European stars anyway. Sometimes it works out like Robbie Keane, David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and Lionel Messi. Other times, not so much. Think of Lorenzo Insigne, Olivier Giroud and Blaise Matuidi.
If there was ever a time for the Whitecaps to sign a big name from Europe, now is the time. The Whitecaps are currently having the best season of their MLS era with a 13-6-5 record and 45 points. They are just one point behind San Diego FC for the Western Conference lead and are five points behind the Philadelphia Union in the Supporters Shield race. Vancouver also has a game in hand with the four teams above them in the Supporters Shield race.
They are also three points away from beating last season’s point total of 47. The Whitecaps most points in an MLS season is 53, which was set in 2015. They are well on track to break that record.
Adding Muller to this squad would benefit them on and off the pitch. On the pitch, his experience, winning pedigree and ability to be in the right place at the right time could propel Vancouver to their first MLS Cup. With a healthy Gauld, Muller and a new centre-back and left-back to fill the void of Ranko Veselinovic and Sam Adekugbe’s season-ending injuries, the Whitecaps would prove they are a contender and serious about going on a deep run.
After all, Muller has proven he can still play in big games. With Bayern Munich last season, he scored three goals and got one assist in the Champions League. He also managed to score two goals and tally an assist in the FIFA Club World Cup.
The best-case scenario, is that Muller proves he has still got it and leads the Whitecaps to the MLS Cup. The worst-case scenario is that he becomes a more expensive Damir Kreilach.
Off the pitch, Muller is known for being one of the most likable and funniest soccer players around. Given the Whitecaps have a strong locker room dynamic and a sense of togetherness already, he would make the room stronger. Plus, Muller would be the perfect mentor for all the young players.
This would be huge for the Whitecaps as Muller would be the biggest signing in club history. His presence alone would sell shirts and fill the seats at BC Place. Plus, with the team up for sale, Muller would help attract new owners and potentially (gasp!) increase the chances of a soccer-specific stadium.
Muller would be the biggest name to sign for a Vancouver sports team. Yes, his presence on the Whitecaps would put him over the likes of the Sedin twins, Pavel Bure, Quinn Hughes, Gauld, Cubas, Nathan Rourke and Geroy Simon in terms of global popularity. Fans of Bayern Munich and German soccer in general would start to pay attention to the Whitecaps.
The bar would be raised higher than it has ever been if Muller signs. If and when it does happen, the Whitecaps need to soar to new heights.
