Gnabry's part in Bayern's plan: where will the Bundesliga champions' new signing fit in?

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Serge Gnabry's arrival at Bayern Munich means yet more firepower at coach Carlo Ancelotti's disposal and provides opposing teams with even more of a headache.

The Bundesliga record champions hardly seem to need more attacking potency, but the football adage that if you stand still you actually go backwards has never been one that could be used to define Bayern's approach.

In Gnabry, the 2016/17 title winners have added one of the most eye-catching of performers from the last campaign to their ranks, and bundesliga.com has taken a look at where the Werder Bremen man will fit in.

Read: Bayern confirm Gnabry signing

- © gettyimages / Johannes Simon

Attacking Midfield in a 4-2-3-1

Midfield in a 4-3-3

Gnabry's attacking instincts would make him ill-suited to a holding midfield role. But similar to what he did at Bremen, he could serve effectively as a number 8, shuttling back and forth box-to-box and helping win back possession, but also being able to use the ball to good effect going forward. There is little doubt the Germany international has the legs to carry out the role, while his ability to strike a ball and reading of the game could make him a devastatingly effective late arrival into the penalty area.

- © imago / Jan Huebner

Out wide

Attacker in a 4-3-3

Bayern have goals virtually throughout the team, but Lewandowski undeniably remains their main source. The Poland international's flawless training and personal regimen means he is rarely in the treatment room, but he turns 29 in August, and with 30 Bundesliga goals last term, he was responsible for just over a third of the champions' tally. It is a weighty ratio, and with his advancing years, Bayern are no doubt in need of alternatives.

Cue Gnabry. Though he may not be an out-an-out striker, he showed last season that in scoring 11 goals for Bremen, the majority of which were netted in the Green-Whites' miserable Hinrunde, that he has formidable finishing skills. If he can find the net in a struggling team, Bayern fans must be drooling at the prospect of what he could do in theirs. He is perhaps still a little raw to feature as a 'false nine', and having just turned 22, may still need to develop the game awareness required of a leader of the line. But in a wide position across a front three, he could be devastating.

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