"?Despite veteran wingers Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery being in the last year of their contracts at Bayern Munich - having made just 20 Bundesliga starts between them in an injury-hit last season - club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has hinted at extending their deals past next summer, citing their positive influence off the field.
However, such a move seems misguided given the direction the club are looking to go under Carlo Ancelotti, coupled with their lack of contribution in recent seasons.
Sentiment aside, Bayern Munich are still a business that need to account for their finances, and with Robben and Ribery among the highest earners in the squad, the Reds need to be getting their money's worth.
Robben made 15 league appearances in 2015/16, while Ribery mustered just six. The pair scored and assisted 10 goals between them, which is a respectable return given the lack of action, but with the likes of Douglas Costa (13 goals and assists), Kingsley Coman (10 goals and assists) and Thomas Muller (25 goals and assists) shining as the next wave of Bayern forwards, do the club really need their old guard?
Robben and Ribery have undoubtedly been fantastic servants during their many years in Germany, but the club don't owe the pair anything given their unwavering support during rocky times and lengthy periods of inactivity.
Their injury woes forced Bayern into signing replacements, and the natural transition of letting the veterans go to blood the next generation will be Ancelotti's task.
The incoming Italian coach favours a counter-attacking style that requires pace and power from his wide men. It's a philosophy that requires his players to be at the peak of their fitness for incredibly demanding work. Can Robben and Ribery really replicate that anymore?
Given that Robben hasn't mustered more than 20 league starts in any season at Bayern, but is eating up £9m-a-year in wages, is he really that beneficial to the club at 32?
Ribery has made a similar number of starts in his last three seasons at the Allianz-Arena, but combined with Robben is costing the club close to £20m-a -year.
They may have a year left on their deals, but perhaps Bayern may decide to offload the injury-prone pair at the earliest opportunity. It would be understandable after-all...