Bavarian Football Works

Tottenham Hotspur has really been struggling this season in the Premier League, but they have managed to navigate their way to the Europa League semi-finals, so Bayern Munich loanee Mathys Tel can at least say he is still in European competition this season. After he was not getting regular minutes at Bayern under Vincent Kompany for most of the first part of the season, it became more and more clear that getting sent out on loan would be the best option for the player, and Tottenham was ultimately where he wound up despite it not being his first choice.

Since he moved to North London on loan in the winter, Tel has managed to tally three goals from a total of 13 appearances across all competitions, which have included starting and playing the full 90 minutes from Tottenham’s last two Premier League matches. He also clocked 79 minutes in their 1-0 win at Eintracht Frankfurt in the second leg of the Europa League quarterfinals. At this juncture, his last two goals have come in the recent Premier League win over Southampton followed by the 4-2 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Per information from Sport Bild’s Christian Falk and Tobi Altschäffl, Tottenham is not currently planning on activating the €50m buy-on option at the end of Tel’s loan spell, which Bayern had remained hopeful for possibly coming to fruition (via @iMiaSanMia). It has been a rough season for Ange Postecoglou’s side, but their attack has been riddled with injury problems this season and they are actively planning for what they want their firing line to look like come the start of next season.

Despite the current signal looking like Tottenham will not activate the buy-on option attached to Tel’s loan deal, Bayern is still hopeful that a potential deal for a sale to Spurs could happen. His market value per transfermarkt is currently at €40m, so there could be a way that Bayern could negotiate some sort of medium between that figure and the €50m buy-on option that was agreed upon for the loan deal.

Of course, things could very well change from Bayern’s standpoint. The futures of Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman, and/or Leroy Sané could impact the club potentially needing Tel back at some point. It will also hinge on what ends up happening with Bayern’s much-anticipated move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz this summer, which is presumably going to cost the German Rekordmeister somewhere in the region of €140m.

Looking for more thoughts and analysis on Bayern Munich’s Bundesliga showdown with Mainz 05? Awesome, then check out our Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show where we break down where each team is in the table, the injury situations for both squads, how Bayern Munich might line up, a prediction on the match, and general thoughts on how the two clubs match up. You can get the podcast on Patreon, Spotify, or below:

Wanner to move on...again? (@kerry_hau via @iMiaSanMia)

According to Sky Sport journalist Kerry Hau, Bayern Munich loanee Paul Wanner wants to make a move to play at a higher level of football. What does that mean? Well, it seems to point to a return to Bayern Munich — or a move (loan or permanent) to a club that is poised for European play:

Paul Wanner wants to take the next step in his career next season - if not at Bayern, then elsewhere at a team that plays attacking football. Talks with Bayern will take place after the end of the season. Wanner is open to a move if Bayern are not planning with him. Several clubs from the Bundesliga and abroad are interested. Wanner has yet to make a decision on whether he will play at the U21 Euros or at the Club World Cup this summer.

With Thomas Müller out of the picture for next season, it might seem like a natural fit for Wanner to return to Bayern Munich. However, minutes will still be scant behind Jamal Musiala, so Wanner’s playing time would be minimal at best unless he plays some wing or Vincent Kompany changes the formation.

That still might be tough because no one is expected to leave Bayern Munich’s midfield group and Tom Bischof will be moving to the club as well. Bischof, of course, can play in any midfield role (attacking, central, defensive), which is yet another roadblock for Wanner.

Eintracht Frankfurt, Borussia Dortmund, VfB Stuttgart, and Bayer Leverkusen have been rumored to have interest in Wanner and each would be solid landing spots in terms of level of play, but it does appear as if Wanner is getting impatient.

None of this even factors in what happens if Bayern Munich makes a play for Florian Wirtz this summer or next summer.

Is there a way for Bayern Munich to keep Wanner engaged that long?

United out on Šeško (ManUtd Addicts via 90Min.com)

RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško could have one less suitor this summer:

Man Utd have ended their interest in RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Šeško, who they do not believe to be worth more than £50m. Leipzig are looking for at least £60m to sell the Arsenal target.

Bavarian Podcast Works — Flagship Show: Season 7, Episode 37 (Bavarian Football Works)

Bayern Munich had had a week...and then some.

Let’s get right into what he in store because there is so much to cover on this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works Show:

We have spoken a lot about Bayern Munich and Thomas Müller this week, but now that everything is official — and the legend’s time at the club is ending, let’s unpack it all.

Bayern Munich has been ravaged again by injuries and with Inter Milan in the Champions League looming, things could tense in Bavaria.

Bayern Munich is reportedly ready to re-up Leroy Sane, Eric Dier, and Sven Ulreich look to be getting new deals. Are these the right moves for Bayern Munich?

Tel a “flop” with Spurs? (Sport Witness)

Bayern Munich’s hopes of selling Mathys Tel to Tottenham Hotspur after his loan ends could be hitting a roadblock because he has not performed:

Bayern Munich are increasingly worried that Mathys Tel has turned into a complete flop at Tottenham and that will see them miss out on €50m this summer.

That’s according to BILD, who report that Tel currently finds himself as fifth choice at Tottenham and that’s causing plenty of concern in Munich. The French U-21 is in a slump, with no goals or assists in five league games for Tottenham and it’s hard to imagine they’ll be exercising a €50m option to buy him in the summer.

He’s proven to be ‘anything but good’ since arriving at Tottenham in loan in January and this risks ruining Bayern’s plans for the summer transfer window. Tottenham initially offered €60m upfront to sign him in January but Bayern’s Max Eberl couldn’t convince the forward to make the move permanently. Tottenham instead paid €10m for a loan with a €50m option to buy him instead.

So, things aren’t going well, and it now seems very unlikely that his move to Spurs will be made permanent at any point. That’s bad news for Bayern, with previous reports making it clear that they were hoping to secure the money from Tel to help do other business.

The numbers are the numbers, but if Tottenham Hotspur does let Tel walk back to Bayern Munich this summer, it might be fair to ask if the Frenchman just is not good enough (like Joshua Zirkzee, Fiete Arp, and others before him) or maybe just does not have a defined position.

Gyökeres looks free to leave Sporting CP (ESPN)

Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyökeres has had one of the most impactful seasons in Europe, but his time in Portugal seems to be coming to an end. The club is open to letting him leave with Manchester United, Arsenal FC, and Chelsea FC all potential destinations:

Sporting CP are willing to sanction Viktor Gyökeres’ exit this summer for the right fee amid strong interest from Manchester United and Arsenal, reports The Sun. The Portuguese giants could accept a bid in the region of £55 million to £70 million as a show of gratitude to the forward, who chose to stay put in January. This is significantly lower than Gyökeres’ reported release clause, which is around £85m. United and Arsenal are considered the “lead contenders” to sign the Sweden international, who has also been linked with Chelsea in recent weeks.

Bayern Munich has also been linked to Viktor Gyökeres, but the presence of Harry Kane could be an impediment to getting any deal done.

Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show: FC Augsburg 1-3 Bayern Munich (Bundesliga)

Bayern Munich traveled to FC Augsburg knowing it was going to face a tough, rugged, defensive squad in Die Fuggerstädter.

As expected, it was not easy, but the Bavarians won 3-1 and will now shift focus to the Champions League quarterfinal against Inter Milan on Tuesday. Let’s dive into this one on the Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show:

Let’s talk about all of that and more on the Bavarian Podcast Work — Postgame Show. This is what we have on tap:

A look at the starting XI and our thoughts on the rotation.

A rundown of the scoring and substitutions.

Some final thoughts and takeaways on the match, including thoughts on the injury to Jamal Musiala.

De Bruyne has options for his next move (Footmercato via ESPN)

Manchester City star Kevin De Bruyne announced that he is leaving the club and it does appear as if he will have options (if he wants them):

River Plate, Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and San Diego FC are all interested in signing 33-year-old Man City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, but Saudi second-division side Neom SC are leading the chase.

Chelsea eyeing Madrid attackers (Fichajes via 90Min.com)

Chelsea FC could be looking at two youngsters from Real Madrid (who probably are not available, but such is life):

Chelsea want to sign Real Madrid winger Rodrygo and striker Endrick and are preparing to launch a double bid worth €180m (£151.5m) to seal a deal.

Bavarian Podcast Works — Reaction Show: Report says Bayern Munich has decided to cut ties with Thomas Müller (Bavarian Football Works)

If the latest reports are true, the Thomas Müller Era at Bayern Munich is over.

How do fans feel about it? How should fans feel about it? Is it just the natural course of a career even for a club legend like Müller — or could something have been done to make it a more palatable exit for fans and the player alike?

One thing is for sure — there is a lot to talk about and discuss regarding the career achievements of a player like Müller and why it has all come to this. Who is at fault? Who should be blamed? Let’s talk about all of this and more on this Special Edition of Bavarian Podcast Works.

Hoeneß talks record turnover, but not enough to make big signings (t-online via @iMiaSanMia)

Bayern Munich legends Uli Hoeneß recently commented on the importance of saving money despite the club’s record turnover (revenue).

“That depends on all the contract extensions. Then you have to see how much money is left to possibly bring in new players. But, as I see things at the moment, there isn’t much money left to make big signings next year,” said Hoeneß. “The most important thing is not the turnover, but the profit. That is still OK, but not as good as it used to be.”

Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show Season 4, Episode 37 (Bavarian Football Works)

What a week it has been at Bayern Munich...

There has been massive drama surrounding a legendary player and the club executives, and the team is steamrolling into key match-ups with FC Augsburg and Inter Milan.

Let’s dive into all of it on this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show. This is what we have on tap:

Why the situations surrounding Thomas Müller and Max Eberl are not only causing consternation with fans, but how they might be showing a greater disconnect between the different factions within the club.

Are Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge overstaying their welcome — or strategically taking bullets to help the club move forward?

The most recent transfer rumors include a potential move for goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and also Dayot Upamecano’s expectations for a contract extension might actually end up being too hefty for Bayern Munich to absorb.

Listener Q&A responses.

Agent for Davies talks through extension decision (@winwinallsports via @iMiaSanMia)

Alphonso Davies’ agent Nedal Huoseh recently spoke through the contract extension that the Canadian signed with Bayern Munich.

“Davies feels good, and I feel good about the new contract. It has been a journey full of ups and downs since 2023 until now. Of course, we had some other options on the table, but overall, it’s a good feeling. Bayern is a great club, one of the biggest in the world, and the player is happy,” said Huoseh.

“From our perspective, there were many factors to consider—the project, the money, and the city. So, there were many positives, and you always have to weigh your pros and cons in every decision. Then, you assess the situation and encourage Alphonso Davies to make his own evaluation—not just be guided but to weigh all the pros and cons himself and then say: ‘Okay, this is where I want to be, and this is why I don’t want to be somewhere else.”

“In the end, the player has to have the feeling deep inside, regardless of the money or any financial aspect. He must have that inner feeling of conviction—’this is what I want to do’—because if he doesn’t feel it, he won’t perform at his best, and he will carry regret inside him, which will affect his focus. And when you’re not focused, that’s not good for a professional footballer.”

“I also want to clarify something—when it comes to a footballer’s career, there are many choices. But staying at a big club for a long time isn’t a bad thing. Sometimes, constantly jumping between clubs can harm a player’s career. You’ve seen this happen with many top stars who moved from club to club, and sometimes things didn’t go as expected. So, stability can sometimes be the better choice.”

Rüdiger to get new deal with Real? (ESPN)

Germany international Antonio Rüdiger could get a contract extension from Real Madrid:

Real Madrid are “very open” to extending defender Antonio Rüdiger’s contract beyond next summer, Sky Germany reports. While the veteran center-back is attracting interest from Saudi Pro League clubs, his priority is to remain in the Spanish capital for another few years at least. A new deal could run until the summer of 2028, by which time Rüdiger would be 35 years old. As per Sky Germany, he feels “happy and comfortable” at Real Madrid, whom he joined in June 2022 on a free transfer from Chelsea.

Spurs, Gunners talking to Sané (TBR Football)

Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal FC are both talking to Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané:

Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur have had conversations with Leroy Sane’s representatives, TBR Football can reveal. Former Manchester City winger Sane is out of contract at Bayern Munich this summer fueling speculation over his long-term future. The 29-year-old left the Premier League to join Bayern back in 2020, where he has now made 211 appearances, scoring 59 goals in the process.

Sane has been praised by Harry Kane this season, a winger who has enjoyed an upturn in fitness and form since Vincent Kompany’s arrival. And given that Mikel Arteta is a big fan of Sane, the prospect of a Premier League return for the winger has often been mooted.

That being said, TBR chief correspondent Graeme Bailey understands that Sane has held talks with a number of clubs in England, even if discussions with Bayern are also continuing. It’s understood that prior to Christmas, Sane had decided that he wanted to leave Bayern – but things have changed in recent months.

Coming off of a two-goal effort vs. St. Pauli, Sané’s stock seems to be on the rise after what most would describe as a mediocre season so far. While Bayern Munich is reportedly going to make a decision on the Germany international soon, it might have to expedite those plans if it wants to keep him and avoid the possibility of a bidding war.

Another Félix flame out (ESPN)

João Félix is likely on his way out of AC Milan:

João Félix is attracting interest from Galatasaray and Saudi Arabia after AC Milan opted not to sign him on a permanent deal this summer, reports Nicolo Schira. The 25-year-old has been on loan at AC Milan since January, but has generally struggled to make an impact at San Siro. As such, the Italian club aren’t expected to trigger their option at the end of the season, which could open the door to the likes of Galatasaray and others. Félix is due to return to Chelsea in June, where he is under contract until 2031.

What’s wrong with him this time? Well...

Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show Season 4, Episode 37 (Bavarian Football Works)

What a week it has been at Bayern Munich...

There has been massive drama surrounding a legendary player and the club executives, and the team is steamrolling into key match-ups with FC Augsburg and Inter Milan.

Let’s dive into all of it on this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show. This is what we have on tap:

Why the situations surrounding Thomas Müller and Max Eberl are not only causing consternation with fans, but how they might be showing a greater disconnect between the different factions within the club.

Are Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge overstaying their welcome — or strategically taking bullets to help the club move forward.

The most recent transfer rumors include a potential move for goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and also Dayot Upamecano’s expectations for a contract extension might actually end up being too hefty for Bayern Munich to absorb.

Listener Q&A responses.

Report: Werner, Silva out at Leipzig (kicker)

RB Leipzig loanees André Silva (Werder Bremen) and Timo Werner (Tottenham Hotspur) will be sold this summer per kicker:

A change of coach often gives players who previously played only supporting roles the opportunity to assert themselves again. But this is not the case for Leipzig loanees André Silva and Timo Werner. Despite Marco Rose’s departure , both attackers, who will return in the summer, are clearly on the verge of parting ways.

The duo didn’t seem to be pushing for a long-term future in their loan spells (both are under contract until 2026). Werner appeared in 18 Premier League matches for Tottenham Hotspur this season – none of them the full 90 minutes – but he didn’t score a goal. Due to his unsatisfactory performance, Spurs even dropped the 57-time Germany international from their Europa League squad in early February in favor of Bayern loanee Mathys Tel .

During the same period, Silva signed a loan contract with Werder Bremen. Since then, the Portuguese has played in every match for the club, with the exception of the recent away game in Kiel, even starting four times. He hasn’t been particularly convincing (kicker average rating of 4.16): He scored his only goal from the penalty spot in the 4-2 defeat to Gladbach.

Gunners, Bayern, Chelsea vying for Williams (The Guardian’s Ed Aarons via @iMiaSanMia)

Arsenal FC, Chelsea FC, and Bayern Munich are all considered to be prime contenders for Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams:

Arsenal are exploring a summer move for Nico Williams. Sporting director Andrea Berta has held talks with the Spain forward’s representatives. Bayern Munich and Chelsea are also believed to be in the race, with his release clause thought to be set at €58m. Williams is expected to push for a move this summer.

Curiously, this report does not include FC Barcelona, who has long been thought to be the frontrunner for Williams. Regardless, it appears that Arsenal is working hard to get Williams (via @iMiaSanMia):

Talks are underway between Arsenal and the representatives of Athletic Club winger Nico Williams, according to The Guardian. The Gunners are reported to have “heavily scouted” the 22-year-old Spain international in the last two years, with new club sporting director Andrea Berta beginning the initial groundwork over a potential move in the summer transfer window. The release clause in the contract of Williams, who has directly contributed to nine goals in 25 LaLiga matches this season, is set at €58 million.

Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show: FC Augsburg vs. Bayern Munich (Bavarian Football Works)

Bayern Munich will travel to FC Augsburg for a suddenly tough battle against a very defensive squad.

The Bavarians, of course, are very banged up at the moment and Vincent Kompany will have to work around the numerous injuries on the squad. We will dive deep into that and more during the Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show. Here is what we have in tap:

A look into where each team falls in the Bundesliga table and some discussion on the recent form of each side.

A look at the injury situations for both teams.

A guess at Bayern Munich’s starting XI, which is a tough ask given all of the injuries.

A prediction on the match.

Barca giving up on Isak? (El Nacional via 90Min.com)

FC Barcelona might be giving up on its pursuit of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak:

Barcelona accept they cannot compete for Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak this summer and so will urge the Sweden international to delay a decision on his future until 2026, when they expect to have sufficient funds.

United with an edge on Ekitiké? (ESPN)

Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitiké is in the crosshairs of Manchester United:

Manchester United hold a key advantage over the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle United in the race to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitiké this summer, according to the Daily Mirror. Sources close to the 22-year-old indicate that a summer move to the Premier League is a distinct possibility. A £60m valuation has been mooted for the France under-21 international, which has seemingly alerted the attention of Man United in particular. Ekitiké is a boyhood fan of the Red Devils, which could make all the difference if a Premier League bidding war ensues at the end of the season.

Bavarian Podcast Works — Special Edition: Thomas Müller’s possible departure from Bayern Munich (Bavarian Football Works)

Thomas Müller, Mr. Bayern Munich, might not be a part of the first team squad for the first time since 2009. Müller commands an international following; the love for him comes from all corners of the world and stretches beyond Bayern. In this episode, some BFW podcasters express their feelings about Müller’s possible departure. In this episode, Chuck, Michael, Jack, Muller_Era and Samrin speak about the Raumdeuter’s possible departure as well as what he means to them personally.

Note: Everyone expressed their views at different points and not everything that has come out about the situation now was known at the time the views were expressed.

Šeško headed to England? (ESPN)

Benjamin Šeško’s list of suitors continues to grow, but he might want to make a move to the Premier League:

RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko has caught the eye of Arsenal, Manchester United, AC Milan and Bayern Munich, according to Bild. However, the 21-year-old favours a move to the Premier League and that places Arsenal at the top of the queue given they will be playing in next season’s Champions League and it’s unlikely that Man United will unless they win the Europa League. The 6-foot-5 Slovenia international has a reported release clause of €70m.

City set for loss of big names? (Football Insider via 90Min.com)

Manchester City could be at ease with losing Mateo Kovačić, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne:

Manchester City are open to parting ways with Mateo Kovačić, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne to raise the funds needed to pursue a £50m deal for AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders.

Bavarian Podcast Works — The Bundesliga Rundown with Marcus Iredahl: Matchday 27 (Bavarian Football Works)

Spring is in the air in Europe, which can only mean one thing: we’re nearing the end of another Bundesliga season!

In this episode, we discuss:

Bayern Munich loaned out Mathys Tel to Tottenham Hotspur in January and some reports indicate that the Bavarians are more than eager to let Spurs activate his release clause.

According to a report from 90Min.com, however, Bayern Munich could be thinking about bringing Tel back to play in the Club World Cup:

Bayern Munich are considering cutting Mathys Tel’s loan deal at Tottenham Hotspur short so that he can play for the Bavarian giants in this summer’s Club World Cup, reports in Germany state.

Ange Postecoglou was confident that his February recruit would be around for the long haul. “Tel will be a Tottenham player,” the Australian coach insisted shortly after his arrival. “I think he will show everyone he will be a Tottenham player in the next six months. I didn’t bring him here for six months.”

However, Tel’s Tottenham career could be concluded after just five months. In preparation for the inaugural edition of the expanded Club World Cup which begins in mid-June, German publication Kicker claim Bayern are giving serious consideration to recalling all their loan players before the tournament begins.

Bayern Munich Club World Cup Group Stage begins vs. New Zealand’s Auckland City on June 15th, witch matches against Argentina’s River Plate and Portugal’s Benfica to follow. Harry Kane has dealt with some wear-and-tear injuries this season, Thomas Müller’s future is uncertain, and the team does not have another player who fill the void at the No. 9 if something happens with those two players.

While Bayern Munich might want to sell Tel, it might ultimately need to recall him to help ensure it has enough coverage at striker. Bayern Munich would be able to make this type of transaction because FIFA will be opening up a transfer period from June 1st through June 15th to allow clubs to bolster their rosters for the Club World Cup.

Looking for more thoughts and analysis on the wild stories breaking about Bayern Munich star Thomas Müller and how (and why!) his tenure at the club could be coming to an end? What about a discussion on the latest Bayern munich injury news, which will see the team even more shorthanded for the stretch run of the season? Awesome, then check out the Bavarian Podcast Works Show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:

Die Folgen: Germany’s 2-1 win over Italy (Bavarian Football Works)

Former Bayern Munich coach Julian Nagelsmann had to know things would not come easy for the German national team when they faced off against Italy at San Siro.

After a slow start, the determined Germans rallied behind some unlikely heroes to capture the victory. Even when Nagelsmann pushes the wrong buttons to start, he ends up coming out a winner. Here are some quick hitters on the match:

As always, let’s begin with a look at the starting XI:

Hmmm. There was an odd and unexpected selection and it did not work out with Nadiem Amiri. Jonathan Burkardt also never got on track. Pascal Groß got a surprise start over Angelo Stiller and was just okay. David Raum got the nod over Maximilian Mittelstädt and the RB Leipzig star struggled. Otherwise, it went as expected.

Germany struggled right out of the gate, which was expected. This was a group that had not played together and the attack lacked chemistry, while the midfield was error prone. Defensively, things were also a little disjointed in the early going.

The early scuffling led to an early goal from Italy in the 9th minute. Raum got caught ball-watching, while also putting himself into a poor position. All of that allowed a pass from Nico Barella to slip behind him. Jonathan Tah was able to get a foot on the ensuing pass, but Tah’s effort ended up on the foot of Sandro Tonali, who made it 1-0.

Raum was super-aggressive with getting up into the attacking zone, which seemed like it could eventually turn into a problem for the Germans. Fortunately, nothing would come of it.

There was a lot of interchanging within the attack and it did not seem as if the four starters were all that comfortable in playing together. Leroy Sané had a very challenging game overall. As we have seen at different points with Bayern Munich this season, Sané just was not all that effective.

The German attack really, really missed Florian Wirtz. Italy was able to focus on making life hell for Jamal Musiala. It would be tough for either Wirtz or Musiala to carry the attacking load on their own in a way that Nagelsmann is asking them to right now.

In the 15th minute, Leon Goretzka should have made it 1-1, but his header was not hit hard and blooped over the crossbar. Goretzka also rifled a shot in the 20th minute toward net, but Gianluigi Donnarumma handled it with relative ease.

Germany dominated possession in the first half, but just could not find a way to take full advantage of it.

Oliver Baumann was terrific on the day. At a time where there was debate on whether or not Baumann should start over Alexander Nübel, Baumann made a convincing argument that he is “The Man.”

Baumann’s 30th minute save on Tonali was sensational. Just a few minutes later, Baumann was at it again in stopping Moise Kean.

Upon entering the match after halftime, Tim Kleindienst was an immediate upgrade over Burkardt. Burkardt never got into a rhythm with his fellow attackers and, unfortunately, will be judged more on the lack of cohesion in the attack than his individual performance.

Nico Schlotterbeck also came in after the half in place of Raum, which was a bold move for Nagelsmann, who was likely not happy with the left-back. Schlotterbeck put in a very solid shift.

In the 49th minute, Kleindienst knotted the game for Germany, who looked as if it was on a mission. Kimmich sent in a long, looping cross from the right-side and Kleindienst perfectly positioned himself between two defenders, got up, attacked the ball, and scored on a tremendous header.

In the 53rd minute, Musiala shouldered Matteo Politano harder than he has ever hit another player.

Baumann was at it again in the 67th minute when he made yet another massive stop — this time against Giacomo Raspadori.

In the 76th minute, Goretzka rose up and flicked Kimmich’s corner past Donnarumma to make it 2-1 and give Germany the margin it would need to win the match.

You have to hand it to Kimmich. After not playing right-back for months, he seamlessly transitioned to the position with ease. With two assists, the Bayern Munich star had a fantastic match.

Goretzka was a headache for Italy to deal with and only lost possession four times, which is incredible for a midfielder. If you wanted to critique Goretzka’s performance, you could argue that he needed to get on the ball more as he only had 67 touches in the match.

Robert Andrich brought some energy for the game’s final few minutes. Given that Groß did not assert himself, Andrich or Stiller could get the nod for the second leg.

Overall, you have to take the win and run. This was a banged up Germany squad that probably had no right in winning this match on the road. Nagelsmann will have some very difficult decisions to make for his lineup ahead of Sunday’s second leg. The coach will also have to sort out how to get more out of his attack — which might mean straying from some of his favorites like Sané.

If you missed our Initial Analysis, Match Awards, Observations, or Postgame Podcast, give them a look or a listen:

NUFC says it won’t let Isak go (ESPN)

Newcastle United is not ready to let Alexander Isak go just yet:

Newcastle are “adamant” that Alexander Isak will stay at the club this summer, according to the Daily Mail. The club’s chairman, Yasir Al-Rumayyan, has informed the hierarchy that all offers must be resisted for the 25-year-old, who was watched by scouts from Barcelona during the 1-0 Premier League win over West Ham United last week. Isak has three years remaining on his contract at St James’ Park, and he has also been linked with Liverpool and Arsenal.

Bayern, Spurs battling over defender? (Sport Witness)

Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur could lock horns over Fenerbahçe SK defender Yusuf Akçiçek:

According to a claim in the Turkish media, Bayern Munich are the latest club showing interest in Fenerbahce defender Yusuf Akçiçek. The youngster has been linked with a move to the Premier League following reports Tottenham Hotspur have been monitoring the 19-year-old.

Fanatik today report on Bayern’s links with Akçiçek, and they say the Bundesliga leaders sent a scout to watch him last weekend when Fenerbahce took on Samsunspor in the Super Lig.

However, like when Tottenham sent officials earlier this season to watch the central defender against Antalyaspor, Jose Mourinho left the player on the bench.

Again, Spurs’ interest in the player has been reported by Fanatik, along with Premier League rivals Manchester United. French giants PSG are also said to be monitoring the situation with the Turk.

Bavarian Podcast Works — The Bundesliga Rundown with Marcus Iredahl: Matchday 26 (Bavarian Football Works)

Matchday 26 had it all—last-minute drama, shock results, and fan protests! In this episode, we dive into:

Can Bayer Leverkusen finally dethrone Bayern Munich?

FC Augsburg’s record-breaking defence.

Eintracht Frankfurt’s ultras and the 50-minute delay in Bochum.

...and much more!

Kompany happy for Kimmich deal (@iMiaSanMia)

Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany was thrilled to see Joshua Kimmich sign a new deal last week.

“I’m always happy when it’s just about football. That discussion is now over and it’s now just about football. That’s the ideal situation. The important thing is what the players do in training, in the changing room and at the weekend. Jo has done very well. I’m pleased for Jo and the club,” said Kompany.

Atleti eyeing Núñez (ESPN)

Atlético Madrid might be looking at making a play for Liverpool FC attacker Darwin Núñez:

A move for Liverpool striker Darwin Núñez is under consideration by Atlético Madrid, according to TEAMtalk. The LaLiga club are believed to be keen to land a forward in the summer, and it is reported that the Reds are open to accepting an offer for the 25-year-old, who has scored five goals in 23 Premier League appearances this season. Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta is also on Atleti’s radar.

Chelsea wants no parts of Sancho (iNews via 90Min.com)

Chelsea FC is hosting Jadon Sancho on a loan assignment, but might be willing to take a penalty instead of exercising an obligation to buy the former Borussia Dortmund attacker:

Chelsea are giving serious thought to paying the penalty fee to back out of their obligation to sign Jadon Sancho permanently from Manchester United after being underwhelmed by the on-loan winger’s form.

Bavarian Podcast Works — Flagship Show: Season 7, Episode 34 (Bavarian Football Works)

Bayern Munich sputtered into the international break with an unexpected 1-1 draw on the road with Union Berlin.

We’ll talk about that and some of the other burning issues going on with the Bavarians at the moment. This is what we have on tap for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works Show:

Why did Bayern Munich look so unfocused and fall apart against Union Berlin? Let’s discuss.

It’s not time to worry about Jonas Urbig.

Why is Vincent Kompany still so reluctant to rotate?

Leroy Sané’s last minute rush for a new contract is upon us.

Eric Dier could get a new deal, but it still feels unlikely.

Who from Bayern Munich is unsellable?

Oh yeah, it’s a race again.

Magull calls it a career for Germany (@dw_sport)

Former Bayern Munich midfielder Lina Magull has decided to end her international career with the German national team:

Van Dijk to MLS? (World Soccer Talk)

Could Liverpool FC center-back Virgil van Dijk potentially join Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne on his rumored move to San Diego FC in MLS?

Maybe:

Liverpool and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk could be set for a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) this summer, ending his decade-long Premier League career, according to L’Equipe. With his contract expiring alongside those of Mohamed Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold, Van Dijk is reportedly considering an MLS move, attracted by the American culture.

This follows a report from Saudi Pro League side Al-Hilal who reportedly made a €20 million offer. He has won several major trophies with Liverpool, including the Premier League title and Champions League.

Van Dijk’s potential move might not be an isolated incident. Manchester City captain Kevin De Bruyne, whose contract is also expiring, has been linked with San Diego FC.

In This Stream

International Break: Germany vs. Italy in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals

Daily Schmankerl: The aftermath of Germany vs. Italy; Bayern Munich, Tottenham Hotspur warring over defender?; Atlético Madrid eyeing Liverpool star; Chelsea wants out of Jadon Sancho deal; Virgil van Dijk to MLS?; and MORE!

Italy 1-2 Germany: Initial Observations and Reactions

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Despite showing sporadic glimpse of brightness at Bayern Munich ever since making his move from Stade Rennes in France, it just never fully clicked for Mathys Tel with the German Rekordmeister. After it became clear midway through this season that the French youngster’s minutes would remain to be few and far between under Vincent Kompany, it was decided that a loan spell to Tottenham in the Premier League would be the best option for his continued development. For Spurs, there is an option to buy Tel at the end of the loan, but his loan spell has not exactly gotten off to a flying start.

Ever since moving on loan to North London at the end of the winter transfer window, Tel has made a total of five appearances across all competitions, four of which were starts largely due to the massive number of injuries to Tottenham’s attack and midfield. He scored in the 2-1 FA Cup loss to Aston Villa at the beginning of the month and that remains to be his only goal contribution to date for the struggling Spurs side.

Manager Ange Postecoglou recently offered his thoughts on Tel, fully recognizing that there was no expectation for the 19-year old to hit the ground running in England and light the world on fire. “With Mathys, he hadn’t played a lot, we’ve thrown him in and kept him in there because I want to build up his fitness. But if anyone is expecting him to come in as a 19-year-old and take the Premier League by storm by scoring multiple goals, it’s not realistic. It just can’t happen,” the Australian manager explained (via @iMiaSanMia).

Before Tel made his loan move to North London, he had made a total of 14 appearances for Bayern under Kompany, the majority of which were appearances coming off of the bench. Knowing that, one of the first goals for Postecoglou was to get Tel’s fitness levels up and then maintain them for the remainder of the season. “What we’re trying to do is work with him. He needs to get his physical fitness up because he hasn’t played a lot of football. At 19, I see really outstanding attributes in him that I think he could be a really good No. 9 and he can play wide as well. He’s not going to be a Dom [Solanke] or [Liam] Delap, he’s a different type. But looking at him in training, his movements are becoming a bit more fluent, he’s getting used to the way we play,” the manager explained.

For what it’s worth, there are also things that Postecoglou has seen from Tel already that he really likes. With the work he’s putting in and the way he’s been performing, Postecoglou feels that goals and assists will naturally start to come, which Tottenham desperately need at the moment. “He’s doing the things we need him to do at the moment to help us. He may not be getting the goals and the accolades but he’s certainly contributing to the way we want to play. That’s the most important thing. He’s got so much growth in him and I’m sure we’ll see that,” Postecoglou stressed.

Just a few short days after completing his loan move to Tottenham Hotspur from Bayern Munich, Mathys Tel was thrust into the action for his new club, making a second half appearance in Spurs’ 4-0 Carabao Cup semifinal loss to Liverpool at Anfield. He was far from the problem in what was a poor collective outing from a struggling Tottenham side that had gone into that tie 1-0 up on aggregate, but he did look energetic and hungry to make an impact.

At Bayern, Tel was simply not getting enough playing time for his liking under Vincent Kompany and it had gotten to a point where he voiced his concern with his lack of minutes, opening the door for a loan move away from Munich. While Tel had a preference to join either Arsenal FC or Manchester United, neither of those two clubs wanted him as much as he thought the might’ve and he wound up at Tottenham, a club he was able to hear quite a bit about from Harry Kane.

The England skipper recently explained that he and Tel had talked about Tottenham before Tel’s loan deal was made official, adding that the young French talent has already expressed how much he was impressed by Tottenham’s training grounds and facilities.

“He asked me [about Tottenham]. When the deal was done, he texted me and told me how great the training ground was. He was very excited. I wish Mathys all the best. Hopefully he gets a lot of playing time. That’s what he needs. He needs to develop and experience the highs and lows on the pitch. I know Tottenham well, they will look after him well. Hopefully he does well there. He should show what he can do at the highest level,” Kane told Sport1 (via @iMiaSanMia).

Of course, Kane’s presence in the Bayern squad is one of the big reasons why Tel missed out on minutes there, but he can play as a winger as well. At Tottenham, he likely won’t supplant Son Heung-Min or Dejan Kulusevski, but there is a window of opportunity for minutes with injuries to the likes of James Maddison, Brennan Johnson, and Dominic Solanke. Richarlison also sustained an injury in the losing effort against Liverpool, which Postecoglou said did not “look good.”

Looking for more thoughts and analysis from Bayern Munich’s 3-0 victory over Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga? Awesome, then check out our Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show for a review of the starting XI, a rundown of the scoring and substitutions, and some final takeaways. You can get the show on Patreon, Spotify, or below:

According to a report from CaughtOffside reporter Mark Brus, Tottenham Hotspur could be the frontrunner to land Bayern Munich free agent Leroy Sané:

Tottenham have emerged as serious contenders to seal the transfer of Bayern Munich winger Leroy Sané this summer, CaughtOffside understands.

Sources now believe that Bayern have all but given up on keeping Sané after trying their best to tie the Germany international down to a new contract, with his current deal about to expire.

Sané now looks highly likely to become a free agent this summer, and Tottenham have been joined by Barcelona in showing an interest in the 29-year-old.

Sané’s status with the club has been in doubt for months now and the club appears to be likely to want to flip quite a few positions in the attack. Will Sané move on?

Looking for more thoughts and discussion on Bayern Munich’s Champions League playoff round visit to Celtic FC? Awesome, because we have you covered with our Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show, You can get the podcast on Patreon, Spotify, or below:

Strikers, Bayern Munich and Tottenham Hotspur. Suddenly, it is starting to become a trend. First, Bayern and Tottenham engage in a long, protracted, difficult negotiation in the summer of 2023 that took months but ended with star striker Harry Kane arriving in Munich to wear the red shirt. Now, the winter transfer has concluded with Mathys Tel ending up in the Lilywhites’ colors after completing a loan transfer to the Premier League team. What’s next? Is Dominic Solanke going to move on from being the Kane successor at Tottenham to the being the Kane successor at Bayern? All right, perhaps not.

But the unique circumstances do give Harry Kane’s recent words on Tel’s departure some added meaning. Speaking shortly after the move was completed, the Tottenham legend had this to say: “It’s a great move for both parties. Mathys is a great guy and very hardworking. It’s important for him to get regular game time and keep improving to fulfill his potential. It’s great for Tottenham to have a young hungry player with loads of talent,” Kane said, via @iMiaSanMia.

According to a report from Daily Telegraph football news correspondent Matt Law (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), there is an interesting wrinkle to Harry Kane’s release clause with Bayern Munich — Tottenham Hotspur has the right to match it:

Sources close to Harry Kane have not commented on a report by Bild the England captain has a release clause, but @TeleFootball. understands that there is indeed a clause in Kane’s Bayern contract, even though he is said to be extremely happy in Germany and has no thoughts of activating it any time soon. Premier League clubs are already aware of the existence of Kane’s release clause, which could be crucial to a potential return to England.

Tottenham have a matching right, meaning that should a rival club trigger Kane’s Bayern release clause, Spurs would have to decide whether or not to match the bid and hope the 31-year-old preferred a return to North London.

While all reports indicate Kane is happy, this could mean that both the player and Bayern Munich are aware that a separation in the summer of 2026 is doable — and perhaps palatable for both parties — if Kane wants to head back to England.

From Bayern Munich’s perspective, the second that Kane wins a trophy, the club has to prepare for the possibility that Kane could — maybe — get the itch to head back to England and chase Alan Shearer’s Premier League goal scoring record.

The release clause is at least some protection against that scenario. For now, though, it is business as usual. Next January, though, this should spark much discussion between the player and the club — along with fans.

Looking for thoughts and analysis on Bayern Munich’s upcoming Bundesliga tilt vs. Werder Bremen? Awesome, then check out the Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show on Patreon, Spotify, or below: