According to Bild reporter Christian Falk, Bayern are prepared to make a move in January if the right opportunity becomes available. Any signing must meet three conditions: the player must strengthen the squad, be available and be affordable.
One name being considered is Feyenoord right-back Givairo Read, although the position is not viewed as an obvious weakness for Bayern. The German champions are already well stocked on the right side of defence, meaning a move for the 20-year-old would depend on the circumstances of the winter market.
There are more pressing questions elsewhere in Vincent Kompany's squad.
At centre-back, Hiroki Ito could leave Bayern Munich in January. Should the Japan international depart, the club would need to consider a replacement, with Min-jae Kim currently the only remaining established cover for Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah.
Midfield is another area where Bayern have limited depth. Joshua Kimmich and Aleksandar Pavlovic are the established options, while Tom Bischof is waiting for more opportunities. Eighteen-year-old Bara Sapoko Ndiaye is also available but remains untested at the highest level.
Konrad Laimer could provide additional cover in the centre, but Bayern may still decide that another option is required.
The left wing is arguably the clearest area for potential recruitment. Luis Díaz has been short of form and has previously indicated that he would welcome another player who could share the workload.
Bayern have alternatives within the existing squad, but the current options do not provide an ideal rotation solution. Falk therefore considers a new left winger the most likely position for a winter addition.
There is a similar issue in attack. Harry Kane is Bayern's only recognised centre-forward, while Ismael Saibari can provide cover but is not a natural goalscorer.
The club's finances could nevertheless influence how aggressive Bayern are in January. Uli Hoeness has praised the income generated by the departures of several academy players during the summer, describing the transfer window as a “summer of the century”.
Wisdom Mike, Maurice Krattenmacher and Jonah Kusi-Asare alone generated €13 million in transfer fees.
That income gives Bayern some room to manoeuvre, but the club's approach remains clear. Rather than signing for the sake of it, Bayern will wait for a player who represents a genuine improvement and makes financial sense.
Read therefore remains a possibility rather than a priority, while the left wing, centre-back and centre-forward positions could ultimately determine Bayern's winter business.