Daily Schmankerl: Bayern Munich to battle with Manchester United for Harry Kane?; Bayern eyeing off-the-radar goalkeeper?; Dayot Upamecano says Lionel Messi is not hardest to defend; Roberto Firmino to stay at Liverpool?; and MORE!

Bayern has not given up on Kane (90Min.com)

Despite reports to the contrary, Bayern Munich could still have hope to bring Tottenham Hotspur star Harry Kane to Germany. In addition, Manchester United could be Bayern Munich’s primary competition for the England international:

Bayern Munich have not given up hope of signing Harry Kane from Tottenham Hotspur this summer, sources have told 90min. While reports in the German media have stated in recent months that Bayern felt their hopes of signing Kane were dwindling, 90min understands that he is very much still one of their main transfer targets.

Bayern recognise luring Kane to Germany could be difficult - he is on course to break Alan Shearer’s all-time Premier League scoring record in the next few years - but the striker’s camp have still not ruled out a move abroad.

In terms of a potential transfer fee, Bayern are believed to value Kane in the same ballpark as Robert Lewandowski, who was sold to Barcelona last summer for a total package of €50m. Die Roten do recognise that Kane is younger and would cost a bit more as a result, however. Should Kane want to remain in England, then Manchester United could be an option should they maintain their upward trajectory and qualify for the Champions League.

It still feels like a longshot that Kane would want to move to Germany next summer. In fact, even a move to Manchester United for Kane feels like it would have low chances of going through — but it still seems more likely Kane leaving Tottenham Hotspur for Bayern Munich.

Bavarian Podcast Works S5E29: Bayern Munich youngsters shine vs Salzburg, Julian Nagelsmann’s BIG mistake, bad news about Sommer, and more!

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With only one week left to go before the Bundesliga restarts, Bayern Munich still don’t have a new keeper. The test game vs RB Salzburg ended in a 4-4 draw with the youngsters scoring upstaging the senior players by a wide margin. Fans and Julian Nagelsmann are worried about how the transfer window is shaping up, but there are also questions about the starting XI and tactics.

In this episode, INNN and Schnitzel talk about the following:

Our impressions from the friendly.
Comments on Mathys Tel and Arijon Ibrahimovic, the two outstanding talents.
Crediting Hasan Salihamidzic for how Bayern’s youth system is functioning at the moment.
Why Bayern’s youth setup looks far better than Borussia Dortmund right now.
Which youth players deserve a callup to the first team?
INNN brings up the elephant in the room — Thomas Muller is being misused AGAIN.
A back-and-forth over Thomas Muller’s future role in the team, rotation, and lineups against PSG in the Champions League.
How Thomas Muller and Jamal Musiala can coexist in the lineup without conflict.
Moving onto Yann Sommer and the problem with the goalkeeper search.
A quick aside on the transfer and table weirdness in the EPL.
Ending the pod on a positive note.

Be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @TheBarrelBlog, @tommyadams71, @bfwinnn, and more.

Daily Schmankerl: A surprise goalkeeper in the mix for Bayern Munich?; Bayern, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool, and Tottenham Hotspur in on Randal Kolo Muani; Neymar to leave PSG?; Roberto Firmino’s next move; Manchester United eyeing Olivier Giroud; & MORE!

Another GK option for Bayern? (Tz)

Things seem to be rounding into form for Bayern Munich to get a deal done with Borussia Mönchengladbach goalkeeper Yann Sommer, but there is a player that we had not previously heard link to the Rekordmeister, who the club apparently kicked the tires on — Benfica’s Odysseas Vlachodimos.

In an interview with Johannes Ohr, Vlachodimos said he was flattered by the rumored interest:

Bayern Munich is looking for a new goalkeeper. Your wife is from Munich...

Vlachodimos: FC Bayern is a huge club. Being associated with a club like that is an honor and reflects a bit on my achievements over the past few years. But that’s all speculation. I don’t deal with it and focus on the here and now.

It could all be conjecture, but there is no doubt that Bayern Munich has not left a stone unturned in its hunt to find a goalkeeper for the Rückrunde.

Bundesliga: Who could replace Manuel Neuer at Bayern Munich?

The news that Manuel Neuer will be out for the rest of the season has rocked the serial Bundesliga champions. Recalling Alexander Nübel from his loan at Monaco is the preferred option – but it’s not straightforward.

Manuel Neuer’s freak skiing accident has left him with a fractured leg and unable to play again for the rest of the season.

It’s a personal blow for Neuer, who will be 37 by the time he returns to the field and is in the twilight of his career. But it’s an immediate concern for his club, who face the unexpected challenge of having to fill their captain’s gloves before the Bundesliga resumes in January.

Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn has been putting a brave face on the mini-crisis. “Of course, we will think about it calmly,” he told German football magazine kicker while emphasizing confidence in Neuer’s deputy Sven Ulreich.

Nübel needs guarantee of ‘maximum backing’
While Ulreich offers a stop-gap solution, there is limited desire from Bayern’s other top-class goalkeeper — Alexander Nübel — to return from his successful loan at Monaco.

Nübel signed for Bayern on a free transfer from Schalke in 2020 but, despite a guarantee from Bayern of game time, played only four times before heading to Monaco in search of minutes. Nübel, who is considered by Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic to be Neuer’s long-term replacement, signed a two-year loan with the French club that included the option for Bayern to recall him after a year.

That option lapsed in the summer, with Neuer signing a new deal with Bayern two years ago and showing no signs of hanging up his gloves. Nübel, 26 and a rising star, has become one of Monaco’s key players — but Neuer remains on top of his game and could yet play on for a few more years.

Nübel’s time in France has been successful and, according to his agent, he is yet to be approached by Bayern about a possible early recall. But even if Nübel were to return to Bavaria in January, it would need to come with guarantees over his long-term prospects at Bayern — with Nübel’s standing having strengthened given his development at Monaco.

“I haven’t had any contact with Bayern, and Alex hasn’t heard anything from Munich either,” Stefan Backs told the DPA news agency. “It’s not an easy situation for the club because they have to change their thoughts completely. You need calm for that. That may be the reason nobody has contacted us yet. Alex signed a contract with Bayern to play there at some point.

“However, conditions must be met for that to happen. Therefore, before taking such a step, we would first have to discuss with the people in charge at Bayern. Alex needs maximum backing,” Backs added.

Navas and Livakovic in the frame
Should Bayern fail in their attempts to lure Nübel back from Monaco, who would have to be compensated for the loss of their No. 1 goalkeeper, Bayern are reportedly eyeing up alternatives.

One of these is Keylor Navas, the former Real Madrid keeper who has slipped down the pecking order at Paris Saint-Germain, becoming the understudy to Gianluigi Donnarumma. His performances at the World Cup for Costa Rica showed that the 35-year-old still has plenty in the tank, but whether PSG would be willing to strengthen a Champions League rival mid-season remains an open question.

Croatian goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic has shot to prominence in Qatar with a string of fine performances — not least in Croatia’s penalty shootout wins over Japan and Brazil. Livakovic saved three of Japan’s spot kicks and denied Brazil’s Rodrygo four days later.

Sommer and Trapp compelling options
Should Germany choose to buy domestic, Borussia Mönchengladbach’s Yann Sommer or Eintracht Frankfurt’s Kevin Trapp could be compelling longer-term options.

Both goalkeepers have impressed in the Bundesliga in recent years and Sommer, who turns 34 next week, is out of contract in the summer of 2023 and has reportedly already attracted attention from Manchester United. Sommer would come relatively cheap and the January transfer window would be Gladbach’s final chance to get a fee for him.

Trapp, 32, has played at the top level for Paris Saint-Germain and was a key member of Frankfurt’s Europa League-winning team last season. Previously, a move to Bayern Munich would have been seen as a step up the ladder but, with Frankfurt still in the Champions League themselves, the 32-year-old may prefer to continue this campaign with the Eagles.

Regardless, with Neuer out only expected to be out for six months, will any top-class keeper be satisfied warming the bench once Germany’s number one has recovered?

Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, FC Barcelona join transfer race for RB Leipzig defender Josko Gvardiol

In a somewhat shocking revelation from Foot Mercato journalist Santi Aouna, Bayern Munich is among the clubs that have joined the transfer race for RB Leipzig center-back Josko Gvardiol, who has been one of the breakthrough performers during the World Cup in Qatar for Croatia.

Chelsea FC is rumored to be the frontrunner for Gvardiol, who only recently inked a contract extension with Die Roten Bullen. Now, however, it looks like the Premier League club has competitors:

Bayern Munich is very hot. A meeting (the date of which has not been revealed) is already scheduled between the management of the Bavarian club and the player’s representative for a possible rapprochement. According to a source close to the case, Real Madrid and Barcelona, also interested, are starting from further away, especially because of the stratospheric price that RB Leipzig will ask to let go its Croatian jewel.

Liverpool and PSG have not yet shown any interest in Joško Gvardiol. The battle promises to be as intense as the one for Erling Haaland a few months ago. It must be said that for many observers, the 20-year-old Croatian international defender with 17 caps is considered the best future defender in the world. And considering his past and future performances with Croatia in this World Cup, starting with the upcoming semi-final against Argentina on Tuesday, it is not far from being the case already.

While not formally interested yet, Liverpool and Paris Saint-Germain are expected to jump into the mix as well.

For Bayern Munich, Gvardiol could be a key acquisition. Benjamin Pavard is expected to leave the club next summer, Lucas Hernandez suffered a major knee injury and is nearing the end of his deal, and there are probably at least some reasons to think Matthijs de Ligt might not be as finished a product as many would like.

With his deal running through 2027, however, Gvardiol will have a hefty transfer associated with him for quite a while.

Daily Schmankerl: Bayern Munich won’t pursue Atlético Madrid star Joao Felix; Contracts talks incoming for Lucas Hernandez; Man City’s Kyle Walker lauds Sadio Mané; Chelsea mulling offer for a Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho?; and MORE!

Bayern out on Felix (Kerry Hau via @iMiaSanMia)
According to a report from Sport1’s Kerry Hau, Bayern Munich will not be pursuing Atlético Madrid star Joao Felix despite rumors to the contrary:

Bayern are no longer interested in João Félix, contrary to recent reports in Spain. The Portuguese forward was an option for Bayern last summer. Salihamidžic had contact with Atlético, but the Spanish club rejected it. Félix is no longer a topic at Säbener Straße.

Skilled and talented, Felix has never really lived up to his potential — at least not yet. Passing on Felix is a wise move, especially give the alleged nine-figure transfer fee and hefty salary requirement. In addition, it is unclear exactly what role Felix would have or where he would play with Bayern Munich.

90min understands that Felix is looking to leave Atletico Madrid next year, amid interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United and Chelsea FC, although he is under contract until 2026 and Atletico may be unwilling to take a heavy loss on their substantial investment.

While Felix can play striker, an acquisition of him would feel like a very expensive half measure for Bayern Munich. Soon-to-be RB Leipzig center-forward Benjamin Šeško or Juventus ace Dušan Vlahovic feel like less expensive, better fits to be honest.

While neither Šeško nor Vlahovic is expected to be made available any time soon, that seems more like the type of player Bayern Munich should pursue to fill the No. 9 position moving forward

A locker room divided? Germany stars distrustful of Hansi Flick’s alleged Bayern Munich bias
According to a fresh new report out of Sport Bild, Hansi Flick & Co. became divided for a litany of reasons. Perhaps we know why Germany suffered this time around.

According to a report from Sport Bild (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), Germany went into the World Cup as a team divided because of Hansi Flick’s previous work with Bayern Munich.

All in all, this past World Cup was an underwhelming experience, with Germany ultimately being eliminated due to their untimely first loss to Japan 2-1 and Japan performing as the nemesis again beating Spain 2-1 in the last game of the group stage.

From the conclusion of the first group stage match, there were concerns about Germany’s unity and performance and those concerns have only been amplified and corroborated by this report. For starters, Germany seems to have been divided into two groups, the “Bayern Squad” and ‘The Rest”, as noted below:

This was problematic for a few reasons, however, the most notable part was Hansi Flick not creating a unified squad. That alone could be an easily fixable problem, but Sport Bild notes that there were even more problems. If one can remember, the “OneLove” armband became major news between Germany, England and Belgium prior to the start of the World Cup. Once Qatar and FIFA prohibited the armband, the expectation was that was it however a few of Germany’s players had other ideas:

The problems started before the Japan game. The discussion around the One Love armband on the eve of the game was led by (Manuel) Neuer & (Leon) Goretzka who insisted that a gesture of protest must be done. Other players didn’t want to take part in any political statements.

This disagreement led to what would become a rather infamous photo for Germany before the Japan match. It also, however, leads to a clearer power-structure within Germany not only including their captain, Manuel Neuer and his club teammate Leon Goretzka. Speaking of Goretzka:

During the Japan game, many couldn’t understand Flick’s decision to sub Goretzka on for Gündogan, which ultimately led to a loss of control and balance. Internally, it was criticized as a ‘harmony substitution’ to keep Goretzka happy. Gündogan was furious.

I’m just going to be rather blunt here: Ilkay Gündogan was atrocious at this World Cup. Frankly, he should have never been brought. Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Jamal Musiala do make up the Bayern midfield, but they’re also the best midfield trio Germany has. Jamal Musiala has supplanted Thomas Müller and the Goretzka-Kimmich combination is one of the best pivots in all of Europe. So, excuse me while I do not see this to be as big of a problem as others make it. Finally, one more core problem that appeared is Kai Havertz frustration at his lack of playing:

Ter Stegen was never going to start and frankly I still do not think he should. Call me biased, but Neuer is still the starter. That is not to say Flick should not open a competition, but Neuer still has time and time again kept Germany on the field when our far greater weakness Ahem Defense. You know it is still a luxury to have Ter Stegen as the No. 2. Havertz is a far more complex situation. He was undoubtedly the best player in Germany’s crucial 4-2 victory over Costa Rica and has done more than enough to be a starter. The problem is, where? He’s not going to take over Musiala as the CAM. The wings had talented players already there and unless Hansi Flick drastically changes the formation for accommodate him as a False No. 9, he might just have to accept his place as a rotational player. Not to mention Timo Werner or Niklas Füllkrug will be back as the striker.

Germany has problems, but they also have an absurd amount of youthful talent. The real question is, will Hansi Flick make the necessary structural changes to better implement his talent or will he remain stuck in his Bayern ways?

Daily Schmankerl: Bayern Munich’s hopes for Harry Kane growing dim?; Arsenal angling for Leroy Sané; Cristiano Ronaldo not going to Al-Nassr?; Tottenham Hotspur wants Josko Gvardiol; Real Madrid wants Jude Bellingham more than PSG’s Kylian Mbappe; & MORE

rs will go all out to keep Kane (This is Futbol)
Transfer guru Fabrizio Romano does not think that it is likely that Bayern Munich will be able to convince Harry Kane to leave Tottenham Hotspur.

“I’ve seen stories about Harry Kane again, but there are no changes at all as of now,” Romano claimed in his Daily Briefing on Caught Offside. “Tottenham want to keep Kane and there are no negotiations ongoing, but also nothing would happen during the World Cup of course… so it’s completely quiet as of now. Bayern like Kane as Oliver Kahn stated, nothing else.”

Right now, it still feels like Kane-to-Bayern is a Bavarian pipedream.

Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer rules out Germany retirement after World Cup exit

In the deflating aftermath of Germany’s tumble out of the 2022 FIFA Men’s World Cup, it’s normal for some of the older international stars to consider their futures in the DFB setup. But the next European Championships, in summer 2024, are not so far away — and they’ll be hosted by Germany, to boot.

Count 36-year-old Bayern Munich keeper Manuel Neuer as all in still — as long as coach Hansi Flick keeps calling him up!

Manuel Neuer wants to continue his career with the DFB. “If I continue to be invited, then I will come,” the OG sweeper-keeper said simply after Germany’s 4-2 win over Costa Rica (via Sport Bild’s Tobi Altschäffl).

Neuer has had a vice grip on Germany’s No. 1 jersey since the 2010 World Cup — despite plenty of competition at the position. FC Barcelona’s Marc-André ter Stegen is also a global superstar but has had to spend his international career largely in Neuer’s shadow. Eintracht Frankfurt keeper Kevin Trapp and ex-Arsenal FC, now Fulham man Bernd Leno form another part of the rotating cast behind Neuer in the national team call-ups.

This is good news for the DFB, as the Bayern man hasn’t really showed serious signs of slowing down. If someone else wants the job, they’ll have to take it from him first!

‘Brilliant’- Ilkay Gundogan Praises Bayern Munich And Barcelona Starlets
Manchester City midfielder Ilkay Gundogan was keen to praise three youngsters that featured in Germany’s clash with Spain in the World Cup.

Having played for his country for over ten years now, it’s fair to say that Ilkay Gundogan is no newcomer to international football.

The Manchester City midfielder made his debut for Germany in 2011 and has gone on to make 65 appearances for his nation.

Gundogan was called up to the Germany squad once more for the World Cup and has been a key player for his country so far in the tournament, starting in both of Die Mannschaft’s games.

The midfielder found himself scoresheet in his side’s opening match of the tournament, scoring from the penalty spot. However, despite his goal, the German’s suffered a shock 2-1 defeat to Japan.

Germany had a more positive showing in their second game, drawing 1-1 with a talented Spain team, thanks to a late Niclas Fullkrug equaliser.

But despite the improvement in the match, the 2014 World Cup winners currently sit bottom of their group, behind Japan and Costa Rica on three points and Spain on one.

Reflecting on the draw, Gundogan said he believed his side did enough to beat the Spaniards. “I think we could have scored a second goal if you look at the chances,” the four-time Premier League winner told Wettfreunde.

But if you look at the whole 90 minutes, I think the draw is okay, especially after the first goal. Now it’s all about the last game.”

One notable aspect of the game was the number of young players involved in it, with Germany’s Jamal Musiala and Spain’s Pedri and Gavi all starting for their nations.

Despite the trio’s relative lack of experience, all three men impressed in the encounter- and Gundogan was among the plaudits for the midfielders, he said: “We have Jamal (Musiala), who’s still a kid. But these kids (Musiala, Pedri & Gavi) are really good, so they’re not really kids on the field.

“They play fantastic, all three, they were all brilliant.

“Jamal made a great game, he’s really important for our game because he can beat players 1v1.”

Gundogan and his teammates will need Musiala to be at his best again in their upcoming match against Costa Rica, which they have to win to advance to the knockout rounds.

The former world champions will be desperate to avoid yet another embarrassing exit from the competition, having been knocked out in the group stages of the 2018 World Cup.

Daily Schmankerl: The aftermath of Germany vs. Japan at the World Cup; Does Bayern Munich’s Benjamin Pavard prefer a Premier League move; Borussia Dortmund’s Jude Bellingham to Liverpool in January?; Bayern Munich out on Borna Sosa?; and MORE!

Die Folgen: Germany’s shocking 2-1 loss to Japan (Bavarian Football Works)

They did it again.

Yup, Germany — under former Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick — put forth a terrible effort in its World Cup opener against Japan. Back in 2018, it was Mexico, but it might not matter who the opposition is, the German national team was not ready to perform on the big stage in Qatar.

Here are some quick hitters on a very unfortunate match: