By Oliver Trust
BERLIN, April 4 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munich's ongoing search for a new coach is causing unrest among several squad members.
According to media reports, key performers such as Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben are considering leaving the 2017 German Champion at the end of the season. While 34-year-old Robben is reported to be thinking about retiring, Ribery is thinking about offers from abroad.
The Hamburg-based sports-magazine Spor-Bild reports of several offers from the Chinese Super League while the Berlin-based tabloid Bild speaks of an additional one from Qatar.
The former French and Dutch internationals' contracts with Bayern Munich will run out in summer 2018. Both are waiting for a decision as they mentioned they would like to stay for another year, but the 2013 treble winner Bayern has not made an offer yet.
Robben and Ribery have expressed their disappointment at having to wait until the new Bayern coach is found. The decision will not possibly be made before the end of April. Current Bayern coach, the 72-year-old Jupp Heynckes has announced his intention to depart once the season is out, despite offers from the club to stay one more year.
Several media speak of growing frustration for Ribery and Robben while the club is on its way to reaching the semifinals of the 2017/2018 Champions League campaign after a 2-1 victory in the first leg against five-time Europa League winner FC Sevilla this Tuesday evening.
Bayern Munich's sports director Hasan Salihamidzic announced that the club would make a decision as soon as possible. The new coach's opinion will have to be considered when it comes to the future of Ribery and Robben.
Sport-Bild says Ribery is genuinely disappointed as he claims to deserve more gratitude after joining the club in 2007 and becoming one of the key performers for the Bavarians over the last 11 years. Robben joined Bayern only two years after the Frenchman.
The unsolved situation of the two cornerstones could cause turbulence in Bayern's squad, the newspaper assumes.
Both Ribery and Robben are said to be impulsive characters, having caused trouble several times. On top, both are injury-prone due to their age (Ribery will turn 35 this Saturday).
While Ribery had to face the competition of 21-year-old Kinsley Coman over the last months, Bayern has found no solution when it comes to Robben's position on the right wing.
Next, to Coman, only 21-year-old on-loan-striker Serge Gnabry is an option for the flanks when he returns from TSG Hoffenheim this summer. Bayern has not so far managed to develop suitable successors for his golden agers duet.
"Both are exceptional players we admire. Both were and are highly important for us as we have been very successful over the last years," Bayern Munich chairmen Karl-Heinz-Rummenigge commented.
But sometimes things have to be considered very carefully, Rummenigge added. He said both Ribery and Robben would have to be patient regarding a decision.
Former international goalkeeper Oliver Kahn told German TV he is reckoning both might be given new contracts. The former Bayern Munich star said, "At least from what I hear, everything points to them staying."
As a decision hasn't yet been made, it seems now up to Bayern's experienced duo Ribery and Robben to decide if they can muster the needed patience or decide on setting sail for new shores to face new challenges.
