FC Barcelona looks like it is going to sign Dani Olmo this summer, but could be plotting a big move for 2025 as well.
Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich is expected to play out his contract and become a free agent in 2025. This would make a deal far easier for Barca (and other clubs), plus it would allow Kimmich to make more of a salary because he would not have a transfer fee attached to him:
Barcelona have cooled their efforts to sign a new defensive midfielder this summer, with the emergence of Marc Casado and Marc Bernal also added onto their belief that an addition is not particularly necessary. This stance has also meant that they are no longer pursuing Joshua Kimmich.
Kimmich had emerged as a leading target for Barcelona earlier in the summer, but for financial reasons, the possibility of him signing was discarded. However, it’s likely to be re-assessed in 2025 if he is available as a free agent – his Bayern Munich contract expires at the end of the upcoming season.
The chances of that happening are increasing. According to Le Parisien, Kimmich does not intend to move from Bayern this summer, with his intention being to see out the remainder of his contract before making a decision on his future.
Signing Kimmich on a free next summer would be a fantastic piece of business for Barcelona, especially amid the uncertainty surrounding the situations of Frenkie de Jong and Ilkay Gundogan. However, there’s a long way to go before this can be considered a realistic possibility.
Bayern Munich is in a very tough spot with Kimmich. The club wants him to take a pay cut, but he might not have to if he decides to wait a year to make a move. There is still a possibility Kimmich could ink a contract extension with Bayern Munich, but the chances look slimmer every day.
Speaking of FC Barcelona, there are some loose rumors floating that the club is talking to Inter Miami about Lionel Messi returning to Catalonia:
Barcelona are in talks with Inter Miami over Lionel Messi’s return to the club to play one final match at Camp Nou. Club president Joan Laporta wants the legendary forward to feature in their first game back at their new stadium.
It seems like Messi is in too deep with Miami to bail out now. He surrounded himself with some friends, has a financial stake in the club, and appears to be at ease with his decision to move to MLS.
Bayern Munich took off for its jaunt in Asia where it will continue its preparation for the 2024/25 campaign. Competition on the squad will be fierce, moves will still be made (transfers in and out), and fan excitement/anxiety will likely start to skyrocket.
What better time to gauge how we are all feeling? Let’s get to it. This is what we have on tap for this episode of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show:
- How about a heat check on where fans stand at this point of the transfer window?
- Joshua Kimmich is reportedly going to play out his contract — what does that mean for him and why it could be bad news for Bayern Munich.
- Noussair Mazraoui is just about gone, will Matthijs de Light follow him to Manchester United?
- The Entertainment Rundown featuring takes on House of the Dragon and…BlackBerry (!?).
Paris Saint-Germain wants to make a late run at Bayern Munich defender Matthijs de Ligt, but is probably too late given Manchester United’s sudden desperation (thanks to the injury to Leny Yoro):
RMC Sport revealed that Paris Saint-Germain have a strong interest in de Ligt, who is contracted with Bayern Munich until 2027.
PSG considers de Ligt a crucial addition to their squad and the capital club might pursue a move for the center-back, although other teams could also show interest. Alternatively, de Ligt may choose to stay at Bayern Munich.
Manchester United would love to unload Casemiro, but cannot find a suitor:
Manchester United are struggling to find a suitor to take on Casemiro, who they have actively been trying to sell following a poor 2023/24 season, and are now preparing for the new campaign with him in mind. The Red Devils are also struggling to agree terms with PSG over Manuel Ugarte.
Bayern Munich looks set to continue onward in its preseason knowing that changes are (maybe) coming.
An overloaded roster will eventually have to be addressed, but Vincent Kompany will have to deal with that, while also figuring out exactly what he has in this group and how he wants them to play.
That will be no easy task. Needless to say, we have a lot to chat about.
This is what we have on tap for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show:
- Is Bayern Munich’s front office taking an amateurish approach to this transfer window?
- João Palhinha looks and sounds like the real deal…can he avoid the pitfalls that have felled other big Bayern Munich signings?
- Despite the poor showings in friendlies, it is not time to panic at Bayern Munich just yet.
- Is it inevitable that Jamal Musiala leaves Bayern Munich next summer? Will Florian Wirtz replace him? Some things appear to be in motion, so let’s discuss.
Manchester City attacker Jack Grealish recently talked about his exclusion from England’s EURO 2024 squad — a subject that is clearly still painful for him.
“I’ll be honest it was probably, football-wise, the most difficult thing I’ve ever had to deal with in my career,” he said whilst on pre-season tour with City. “I was absolutely heartbroken.
“Obviously when you’re on your holidays, wherever I was, every time you turn on the phone or turn on the TV or whatever, you just see it. So it was hard to not see it. For myself now, moving forward, I have to just try to use that as motivation going into this season and try to have the same mentality as I had two years ago.
“In my first season at City I don’t think I performed as well as I could and in the second season I played in a lot of the games and that was down to the first season. I had wanted to come back stronger and I certainly did that, so hopefully I can do that again.
“This is my chance to get my fitness, to have a two-week headstart and try to be as fit as possible. And I’m playing with confidence. I feel like that’s what I need and fingers crossed I can do that.”
Jürgen Klopp is not interested in reviving his coaching career:
Well…maybe that is going a little too far. DW Sports captured a broader view of Klopp’s quote:
Jürgen Klopp has ruled out a return to coaching?
Really? Well, it’s not that easy. We understand German and we listened carefully…
Here’s the lowdown of what he actually said
At the moment he’s not interested in any country or club, he said at a podium discussion in… pic.twitter.com/VmwMHyNZGb
— DW Sports (@dw_sports) July 31, 2024
Jürgen Klopp has ruled out a return to coaching?
Really? Well, it’s not that easy. We understand German and we listened carefully…
Here’s the lowdown of what he actually said
At the moment he’s not interested in any country or club, he said at a podium discussion in Germany. “As of today, that’s it for me as a coach… I didn’t quit on a whim, but it was a general decision”, he said.
He even praised many other coaches out there and said it’s time to step aside and give them opportunities.
But if you go deeper into the talk beyond social media sensationalism he actually leaves the door open.
“If I had to make an announcement today, yes or no, I would say ‘No, I don’t want to be a coach anymore.’ But luckily I don’t have to decide today and can still think about it a few more months.”
He even added: “I still have motivation to work in football and help people with my experience and contacts. Let’s see which options will arise for me.”