Karimi's Bayern Future In Doubt?

It has been suggested that Dos Santos may be groomed to step in for Captain Michael Ballack should he decide to leave. Dos Santos’ arrival, however, increases the club’s non-European contingent to five, one over the four permitted by UEFA. This raises questions about Iranian midfielder/striker Ali Karimi’s future in Bavaria.

Karimi’s contract with Bayern runs through June of 2006 with an option to extend. With midfielders Owen Hargreaves, Martin Demichelis, and Sebastian Deisler and strikers Roque Santa Cruz, Claudio Pizarro, Roy Makaay, and Jose Paolo Guerrero all signed to contracts running through 2006, it will be interesting to see if the club will exercise their option.

Earlier this week there were rumours that Karimi may me loaned to FC Koln. Karimi’s agent, however, was quick to dismiss the rumors.

Although Karimi has been very involved in Bayern’s Bundesliga and European success this year, some suggest that he may not have lived up to the club’s high expectations.