If there was any doubt about the seriousness of the rumors linking Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt to Manchester United, you can put them to rest — the Dutchman is almost assuredly leaving Bavarian for the Red Devils.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano (as captured by @iMiaSanMia) indicated that the two clubs are working on the finer points of a deal, which should allow De Ligt to leave Bayern Munich:
Bayern and Manchester United are currently discussing the structure of a deal for Matthijs de Ligt. United want to include add-ons in their proposal. Despite reports about PSG entering the race, De Ligt’s intention is very clear – he wants to go to United and reunite with Erik ten Hag.
Losing a talented player like De Ligt does not help the club (especially when noting that his replacement is supposed to be very-up-and-down defender Jonathan Tah). Does this make Bayern Munich better for 2024/25? No. Is this part of a grander plan to restructure the squad? You bet.
How it all plays out from here remains to be seen, but a new era in the front office is upon us and this could be the first major domino to fall in a summer that could see many others follow suit.
The interesting thing about the De Ligt situation is that is has brought to light a rumored plan to slash the payroll in Bavaria — an attempt to right-size a budget in an era where only financially struggling clubs are looking to dump talent in favor of financial relief.
The curious part of this is that there is zero indication that the club is in any financial trouble. Moreover, the belief that the club wants to shed salary to pay for other incoming players in the next two years (think Florian Wirtz) has stepped on the reporting, which states that Bayern Munich is not playing a shell game with salaries, but wants to reduce the budget overall…for good.
While there is much to chew on with that alone, let’s take a look at the 25 highest paid defenders in the world as provided by Front Office Sports. Peruse these names and it makes less sense that Bayern Munich thinks is it overpaying De Ligt so much that it must get rid of him as soon as possible:
- Kalidou Koulibaly, Al Hilal: €34.7 million
- Aymeric Laporte, Al Nassr: €24.5 million
- David Alaba, Real Madrid: €22.5 million
- Milan Skriniar, PSG: €20 million
- Lucas Hernández, PSG: €19 million
- David Raum, RB Leipzig: €18.87 million
- Antonio Rüdiger, Real Madrid: €18.75 million
- Raphaël Varane, Manchester United: €17.68 million
- Marquinhos, PSG: €16.8 million
- Matthijs de Ligt, Bayern Munich: €16 million
- Éder Militão, Real Madrid: €14.58 million
- Achraf Hakimi, PSG: €14.5 million
- Jules Koundé, FC Barcelona:€13.55 million
- Reese James, Chelsea FC: €13 million
- John Stones, Manchester City: €13 million
- Andreas Christensen, FC Barcelona: €13 million
- João Cancelo, FC Barcelona: €12.5 million
- Alessandro Bastoni, Inter Milan: €12.04 million
- Kim Min-jae, Bayern Munich: €12 million
- Virgil van Dijk, Liverpool FC: €11.44 million
- Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich: €11.25 million
- Alex Sandro, Juventus: €11.11 million
- Gleison Bremer, Juventus: €11.11 million
- Niklas Süle, Borussia Dortmund: €11 million
- Renan Lodi, Al Hilal: €10.8 million
In the end, worth comes down to what someone is willing to pay for you (maybe De Ligt’s worth is dropping if he is being asked to take a pay cut by Manchester United, but a €12 million or €13 million salary would still keep him on this list). When comparing the names on the list of Top 25, De Ligt’s salary does not seem all that outlandish. To move away from Bayern Munich, the Dutchman will likely take a pay cut and be an even bigger bargain for Manchester United.
Bayern Munich’s alleged plan to cut salaries across the board (at a time when salaries are rising) just does not smell right. It feels like a cover for something else…and just maybe that is to expunge the roster of all of its leaders by the end of 2024/25, so the New World Order can build the roster — and culture — in their own vision.
That will mean change…lots of it.
More than ever, Thomas Müller and Manuel Neuer look to be leaving after this upcoming season. Joshua Kimmich, Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, and Leon Goretzka are all rumored to be on the chopping block. If those names are all gone by the start of 2025/26, it truly would represent a complete sweep of the club’s leadership group.
It is a risky proposition, but one that Max Eberl, Christoph Freund, and Vincent Kompany all seem to be more than willing to take a gamble on. Are you?
For the sake of all Bayern Munich fans, let’s hope that the new regime is completely on-point with their assessments and planning. Let’s hope they nail every sale and signing with A+ grades.
That will not be easy, but it does look like the Bayern Munich is turning things over and will be led by a new group of players by the start if the 2025/26 season.
Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show: Germany vs. Spain
The stakes are high for both Germany and Spain as the EURO 2024 quarterfinals kick-off.
This match-up feels like it might be more worthy of a semifinal or a final, but both teams will embrace the challenge.
On its home turf, the German national team will go all out, but Spain will not be a pushover. How will it play out? Who will start? Let’s take a look at all of that and more on this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show. Here is what we have on tap:
- Fans should be excited as hell for this game.
- Some thoughts on Germany’s evolution as a unit.
- The match could be decided by two key match-ups, let’s dig into what those might be.
- A guess at Julian Nagelsmann’s lineup.
- A prediction on the match.
Song of the Week: “Real American” by Rick Derringer
In honor of the Independence Day celebration held in the United States on Thursday, I had to go with the most American song that I could think of.
You have NO IDEA how massive this song was in 1985. I was nine-years-old and I damn near wore down the cassette tape. Leaving your inhibitions at the door and just bask in some mid-80s magic (the video is incredibly absurd):
The song also led to this absolutely epic entrance by Kenny Powers in season two of Eastbound & Down:
Germany vs. Spain…it’s time!
In just a few hour Germany will take on Spain in what is going to be slobberknocker between two certified heavyweights.
How are you feeling about it…let’s take a heat check:
Poll
Do you think that Germany can take down Spain?
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100% – it’s happening
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Yes – but it won’t be easy
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Germany will win on PKs
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No – Germany just isn’t there yet
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Nope – Germany will get outclassed
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0 votes total
Vote Now
Bavarian Podcast Works: Weekend Warm-up Show Season 3, Episode 51
Germany is in the EURO 2024 quarterfinals. Bayern Munich seems like it might torch some key players on its roster, and we are sitting here wondering why it just can’t all come together on both fronts to make for a smooth and seamless summer!
That is never the way, but it is also why we are here doing this podcast, so let’s get cracking with a look at what is on tap for this episode of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show:
- Early thoughts on Germany vs. Spain at EURO 2024.
- Matthijs de Ligt looks like he is headed to Manchester United.
- Bayern Munich has agreed on personal terms with Xavi Simons, but that does not mean a deal is imminent.
- Arijon Ibrahimović re-upped with Bayern Munich and will be on the first team, but with what role?
- Bayern Munich could be asking Joshua Kimmich to take a 15% pay decrease. Would he do it? Does he even fit into Vincent Kompany’s plans?
- A shout to an upstart Bayern Munich fan club in Louisville, Kentucky (@MiaSanLou on X).
Entertainment Rundown
House of the Dragon
- Okay, there was a drop off in quality, but as you know, I theorize that every series has a filler episode or two built into every season where the action takes a backseat to the buildup. That is what we got with Season 2, Episode 3 “The Burning Mill.”
- While this was not a great episode. the one part that really stood out as great is that Rhaenyra really did understand what weaponizing the dragons would do the Seven Kingdoms. Surely, that hesitance to use WMDs will come to an end, but it was very interesting to see her ignore the advice of her council in an attempt to salvage the sliver of hope that was left for peace to happen. Aside of that, though, the episode was a bit of a mess.
- Rhaenyra sneaking into the city as a sept maiden was pretty ludicrous. She is a warring queen and no one recognized her face? I suppose we have to suspend our belief a little.
- Rhaenyra sending Rhaena off to mind to her kids (and apparently the dragon eggs that would eventually turn into those of Daenerys Targaryen) was definitely the precursor for war, which means action should be heating up.
- The whole scene with Baela being able to spot Ser Criston Cole from way up high on a dragon was thoroughly ludicrous, especially when you factor in that Rhaenyra just walked though King’s Landing without being noticed.
- The “Prince that was Promised” twist (which the audience knew about but Rhaenyra did not) was never going to be settled with an, “Aw shucks, let’s just call this whole thing off” solution. War is coming and it promises to be ugly.
- We are definitely not seeing enough of Daemon or Aemond scrapping with people. I feel like the show is going to miss on showing this.
- Daemon winning over Harrenhal with no resistance was also…odd. The story did tie up that was, but it was a lot of build-up to nothing.
- Overall, the episode was a lot of filler and a lot of weak writing. Some was necessary to set the stage for event later in this story (or at least I am imaging that is the case) and some of it, was not.
Rating: 7.00/10.00
The Boys
- Like the rest of the episodes this season, The Boys, Season 4, Episode 5 “Beware the Jabberwock, My Son” fell short of the quality that fans have come expect from the show.
- The storylines are just…not connecting to me as an audience.
- The death and ordeal prior to the death of Hughie’s father was a huge miss. There were a number of troublesome things about that storyline (why would his mom, after being so stringent with her power of attorney throughout the hospital experience give Hugh the Compound V?). It just wasn’t good.
- Meanwhile, the hunt for the anti-Supe virus took some twists and turns, including the return of
Gustavo FringStan Edgar. - I don’t want to dive into the intricate storylines, but I am starting to believe the fan theory that is out that that Joe Kessler is the Tyler Durden of The Boys (if you catch my drift).
- Overall, The Boys is scuffling to recapture the magic of previous seasons. There weird thing is that the show is that nearly every character is deplorable for one reason or another, but they are all entertaining and do hold an audience. In a weird way, the characters are carrying the show and are (barely) overcoming what has been an awkward transition from graphic novel to the screen for this season. For a few reasons, this season has been choppy, hard to follow at times, and unable to connect with the audience (or at least me). I won’t bail on the show by any means, but it is inching towards not being a “must watch event” as soon as Amazon Prime drops the newest episode.
Rating: 6.00/10.00