Berlin: Bayern Munich hope to quickly sign a replacement for injured holding midfielder Javi Martinez who will be sidelined for the rest of the year, coach Pep Guardiola said.
Martinez suffered a cruciate ligament tear in his left knee in Bayern`s German Super Cup defeat to Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday.
"We need a new player," Guardiola, who before Martinez`s injury had said he would make no more signings in this transfer window, told reporters ahead of Sunday`s German Cup first round match against Preussen Muenster.
"We have to react and there are candidates. There are many candidates but only a few who would do for us.
"With this injury we have a special situation and now we must act," the Spaniard added. "There are still two weeks."
Martinez`s absence is a big blow for last season`s domestic double winners with the Spain international capable of playing several positions including at the heart of a new-look three-man defence Guardiola fielded against Dortmund.
The Bundesliga starts on Aug 22.
Reuters
First Published: Saturday, August 16, 2014, 17:29
