Real Madrid is reportedly out of the sweepstakes to land Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich:
Heading into the summer transfer window, Bayern Munich midfielder Joshua Kimmich is a much sought-after player, with a number of top clubs interested. Barcelona have been linked with the German international the strongest while recent reports have suggested that Real Madrid are also monitoring him as a possible Toni Kroos replacement.
Furthermore, reports claim that Los Blancos are one of the clubs that Kimmich can imagine himself playing for if he were to leave Bayern Munich, where his contract expires in 2025. However, now, SPORT reports that Real Madrid have decided to rule out a move for Joshua Kimmich in the upcoming summer window.
Kimmich’s market value stands at €50 million but as per the report, if he were to leave, it would be at a price at least €10-20 million lower than that. Real Madrid are looking for a guaranteed replacement for Kroos, although they are confident that the players they have can make up for his absence.
Kimmich is one of the options on their agenda, although at 29, he does not fit in with Florentino Perez’s new transfer policy, which leans towards signing young players with projection. Kimmich is understood to have offered himself to Real Madrid, but they turned him down because they believed it would be impossible to sign two Bayern players in the same summer in one fell swoop.
Even Real Madrid has exited the race, Manchester City is firmly in the mix per The Athletic (as captured by @iMiaSanMia):
Joshua Kimmich is understood to still be an option for Manchester City in the summer transfer window.
According to recent reports by Standard UK, Chelsea is willing to secure the services of Alphonso Davies, who plays for the German club Bayern Munich. The Blues are planning to hijack the star as he is a Real Madrid target.
The links between Davies and Madrid have been circulating for a couple of months. Although the star player has a desire to play for the La Liga winners, Madrid has not yet made any concrete offers for the 23-year-old.
With Enzo Maresca arriving at Chelsea as the new head coach, the Blues are entering a new era this summer. The new boss must be willing to restructure the squad and bolster the roster to prepare them for the next season.
The Munich star’s valuation is most likely around €50–60 million. This might be an issue for the La Liga superstars because they are not willing to move any further at this asking price. Chelsea can certainly overtake the Spanish club if they are willing to fulfil Munich’s demands.
Germany will kick off its EURO 2024 campaign against Scotland with a team lacking on the typical Bayern Munich influence.
In fact, only Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, and Jamal Musiala could feature as starters for ex-Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann. As the home country, Germany will have the crowd at its back (and maybe on its back, too), but things will not be easy, as France, England, Spain, and Portugal are all expected to make a strong charge at winning the title.
Now, it is time to get going to and discuss how this all might play out, so let’s get to it:
- A look at Julian Nagelsmann’s probable starting XI.
- Why Germany absolutely needs a strong performance against Scotland to help, well, everyone stop feeling so apprehensive about the team.
- A prediction on the match.
Jadon Sancho might not want to go back to Manchester United unless Erik ten Hag is sacked:
Meanwhile, Jadon Sancho is open to returning to Man Utd next season, but only if manager Erik ten Hag is replaced. Sancho rejoined Borussia Dortmund on loan in January after falling out with Ten Hag.
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen thinks that Arsenal will make a run at him this summer:
Napoli striker Victor Osimhen believes Arsenal will make an attempt to sign him this summer, while he could receive a fresh approach from the Saudi Pro League. Incoming Napoli manager Antonio Conte is already planning for life without the Nigeria international.
Bayern Munich’s offseason reload could be starting off in a big way as the club is planning on making a big splash immediately. In addition to that, there was a bizarre story put out by Sky Sport last week, which detailed six top players who could be sold this summer by the Bavarians.
Oh, and then there is the German national team and how things look after two friendlies. Yup, there is a lot to chat about, so let’s get to it. Here is what we have on tap for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works Show:
- A look at Bayern Munich’s rumored €40 million splurge on João Palhinha and what that might mean for the other midfielders on the roster.
- Delving into the six players who Sky listed as for sale this summer.
- Assessing where the German national team stands after underwhelming performances against Ukraine and Greece.
New FC Barcelona coach Hansi Flick thinks Pedri could end up being a better player than Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala:
Journalist Diego Torres Romano has shared some exciting news about Barcelona’s new manager, Hansi Flick, and his admiration for the young midfielder Pedri. Flick, who previously managed Bayern Munich, is extremely impressed with Pedri, even more so than he was with Bayern’s rising star, Jamal Musiala, whose current market value stands at €120 million.
Flick is anticipated to bring a lot of tactical changes to Barcelona and one significant change will be the team’s formation.
Instead of the traditional 4-3-3 setup, Flick plans to use a 4-2-3-1 formation as this system features a double pivot, which means there will be two defensive midfielders playing in front of the defence. Now, at Barcelona Flick will have several talented players who can fit into this role, including Pedri, Gavi, Frenkie de Jong, and Ilkay Gundogan. All of these players are capable of complementing a more defensively-minded midfielder in the double pivot.
However, Flick has special plans for Pedri. He envisions Pedri playing in a more advanced position on the field. He wants Pedri to be the team’s primary creative force, utilising his exceptional passing skills. By positioning him just behind the striker, Pedri will have the freedom to operate between the lines, where he can make the most of his ability to deliver precise final passes.
This new role will not only allow Pedri to showcase his creativity but also help him become more involved in the attacking phase. Flick believes that this positioning will enable Pedri to make more frequent runs into the penalty box, increasing his chances of scoring goals.
Arsenal FC is trying to lure Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi to London. Zubimendi, of course, has been on-and-off Bayern Munich’s transfer radar over the past year:
Arsenal are working on a wage package for Martin Zubimendi ahead of a potential summer move, FootballTransfers understands.
We are told that the Gunners plan to offer the Real Sociedad midfielder a five-year contract and a salary of £115,000 (€135,000) per week, which will double the money he earns at his current club.
There is a lot of moving and shaking going on at Bayern Munich and the German national team these days, which means there is a lot to talk about. This is what we have on tap for the latest edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show:
- Vincent Kompany wants to play a 4-4-2 (hmmm), sell some wingers (yeah!), and has six players targeted for five positions (Paris Saint-Germain’s Xavi Simons, Bayer Leverkusen’s Jonathan Tah, FC Barcelona’s Frenkie de Jong, VfB Stuttgart’s Chris Führich, VfB Stuttgart, Fulham’s João Palhinha, and Everton’s Amadou Onana). What does all of this mean? Let’s discuss.
- Are we in the final days of Joshua Kimmich being a player at Bayern Munich?
- Is Julian Nagelsmann’s loyalty to İlkay Gündoğan going to cost him…and the German national team?
- A little bit of the Entertainment Rundown.
Bayern Munich and Liverpool might both have interest in PSV Eindhoven’s Johan Bakayoko:
The summer transfer window is always rife with speculation and big moves. This year is no different, with Johan Bakayoko of PSV Eindhoven stirring up significant interest among Europe’s elite clubs. A recent report by Sport Witness, drawing from sources like Het Belang van Limburg and Het Laatste Nieuws, has put Liverpool and Arsenal at the forefront of this chase, alongside a nod to Bayern Munich’s interest.
Liverpool’s interest in Bakayoko isn’t new. The Reds have been tracking the 21-year-old winger, reflecting a strategic approach to rejuvenate their flanks. Arsenal’s entry into the fray, though not initially reported, adds another layer of intrigue. Both clubs have a reputation for nurturing young talent, and Bakayoko’s skill set seems to align well with their respective football philosophies.
The player himself remains cryptic about his future, telling reporters, “The only thing I can say is that next year I will be on a football pitch somewhere.” This non-committal stance fuels further speculation about a potential move, especially with a €50 million price tag floating in the background.
Bakayoko’s decision last year to turn down moves to Paris Saint-Germain and Brentford was a bold one. It’s clear he is looking for the right fit, both in terms of club stature and the developmental opportunities on offer. Liverpool and Arsenal, both known for their strategic build-up and development of players, could be seen as more attractive options.
The involvement of Vincent Kompany, who attempted to lure Bakayoko to Burnley before moving to Bayern Munich, adds another personal dimension to the transfer saga. Bakayoko’s acknowledgment of their conversation last summer, “He then explained his vision. That was nice. I clarified my view. It was a good conversation, but that was last summer,” suggests a respectful relationship but also an openness to other opportunities.
For PSV, the potential departure of Bakayoko represents both a challenge and an opportunity. A €50 million influx would provide significant funds to reinvest in their squad, possibly allowing them to explore other young talents who can fill the void left by their departing star.
For Liverpool and Arsenal, securing Bakayoko’s services would be a statement of intent. For Liverpool, it could signify a refreshing of their attacking options, while for Arsenal, it would add depth and quality as they continue to build under their current management.
Union Berlin fans were asked to support the women’s team as they fought for promotion…the supporters showed up in a big way:
Union Berlin told their fans to come and support the club’s women’s team.
And answer they did, with their club getting promoted to the second division pic.twitter.com/AriSIu6jM3
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) June 10, 2024