Bayern to make move for Mainoo? (TEAMtalk)
Is Bayern Munich secretly plotting a move for Manchester United phenom Kobbie Mainoo? Maybe:
Kobbie Mainoo’s Manchester United nightmare shows no signs of abating, with the 20-year-old England midfielder now the subject of intense interest from Bayern Munich. Sources confirm the Bundesliga giants have held direct discussions with Mainoo’s representatives, signaling their strong intent to secure a permanent deal in January. Bayern feel “confident” the prodigy would be receptive to a move to the Allianz
Arena, where he could reunite with national team captain Harry Kane and thrive under Vincent Kompany’s progressive system.
Bayern’s pursuit adds firepower to a crowded field. Napoli remain very interested, pushing a loan with an option to buy, covering wages and promising a starring role alongside ex-Man Utd duo Scott McTominay and Rasmus Hojlund in Antonio Conte’s setup. Mainoo is “open” to joining the Serie A leaders, drawn by British success stories like McTominay’s revival, though a Premier League stay – via Tottenham Hotspur, Newcastle United, or Manchester City – remains his top choice.
This is not the first time that Bayern Munich has been linked to Mainoo. The 20-year-old was on Bayern Munich’s radar last summer, but things never really progressed to the point of either side getting serious.
Mainoo, a central midfielder, has no goals and one assist in 10 games across all competitions this season.
Goretzka to Juve? (JuveFC.com)
Bayern Munich and midfielder Leon Goretzka look headed toward a separation and Juventus could be there to give the German a landing spot:
Juventus have been given a boost in their pursuit of Leon Goretzka, as Bayern Munich opt against renewing his contract. The 30-year-old has been on the Bianconeri’s radar for several years, but has always ended up lingering at the Allianz Arena.
Luciano Spalletti is currently operating with a thin midfield department, and recruiting a genuine deep-lying midfielder has been considered the main priority. On the other hand, Goretzka is a box-to-box midfielder. The German international would certainly add quality and experience to the department, but he might not necessarily be the first name on the shortlist, especially due to his characteristics.
Salah left home for key Inter tilt (Fabrizio Romano)
When Mo Salah lit his long-term relationship with Liverpool on fire over the weekend, there was always going to be fallout and it culminated with the Egyptian being left home for Liverpool’s Champions League game vs. Inter Milan:
The situation was discussed heavily in Monday’s press conference by goalkeeper Alisson and head coach Arne Slot: (please note that we made spelling corrections within the original posts where applicable):
🚨🇧🇷 Alisson: “Salah not being available is a consequence of what he did. He’s smart enough to know that”.
“We have a good relationship for long time, he’s a legend for Liverpool. We will have a conversation but it’s going to be private because it’s personal”.
🚨🫂 Alisson:“I don’t think Mo Salah wanted to disrespect anyone… he just had the freedom to talk how he feels about his own situation”.
“I really hope he plays for Liverpool again. But that’s between Mo and the club, not me”.
🚨🧨 Alisson: “Do I back Arne Slot? Of course, YES”.
“The Premier League title last season… Looks like everyone takes for granted what we achieved last season. That should be enough but we believe in his knowledge, his style of playing”.
Meanwhile, Slot issued several quotes on the Salah topic:
🚨 Arne Slot on Salah’s “under the bus” quote: “Who he meant? The ONLY one who can answer that question is Mo”.
“It’s hard for me to tell who he means to be honest… I don’t know. Ask Mo”.
🚨🧨 Arne Slot on Mo Salah: “Usually I am calm and polite but it does NOT mean I’m weak. When a player says things like that, we have to react as a club”.
“And you can see he is NOT here”. ❗️
🚨 Arne Slot on communications with Mo Salah: “Only one communication”.
“We let him know that he doesn’t travel with us today. That’s it”. ❌✈️
🚨 Arne Slot: “For sure, it was a surprise to me when I heard Mo Salah gave the comments that he gave…”.
🚨 Arne Slot on relationship ‘broken’ with Salah: “That’s not the way I feel… but he has the right to feel how he feels things”.
“Mo was always respectful to staff and to his team-mates, he trained really hard so it was a bit of a surprise when I heard he made those comments”.
🚨 Arne Slot: “My reaction to Mo Salah words… well, that is also clear and that’s why he isn’t here in Milan tonight”. ⚠️
🚨🖐🏼 Arne Slot: “I don’t feel my authority has been undermined [by Salah’s words]”.
“It’s not about me, it’s about it being more difficult for the team and the club. It’s difficult to see staff members who work hard on a daily basis being affected by it, mainly the results…”.
🚨 Arne Slot: “Mo Salah has every right to feel what he feels… but if he has the right to share it with the media, then we have to react with it”.
“The reaction is clear. He’s out today”.
🚨💣 Did Mo Salah play his last game ever at Liverpool?
Arne Slot: “I have NO clue, I cannot answer this question at this moment in time”.
🚨 Arne Slot on if there’s any way back for Mo Salah: “I’m a firm believer that there is always a RETURN for a player”.
Liverpool really is a dumpster fire this season, eh? Florian Wirtz has to be having second thoughts about that decision.
This has become a long-running gag here because I still love Snatch (the movie, you perverts), but fast forward three or four years and this is Wirtz:
Alonso on the hot seat? (The Sporting News)
Speaking of former Bayer Leverkusen stalwarts, who were Bayern Munich targets annd probably should have just went to Bavaria when they had the chance — Xabi Alonso’s seat at Real Madrid could be getting warmer:
Multiple reports on Monday indicated that Alonso is under serious pressure at Real Madrid.
According to The Athletic, club leadership met following Saturday’s defeat to Celta Vigo to discuss the situation.
The report states: “Although the board does not believe Alonso is solely to blame for the situation, they are unhappy with the team’s image and recent results.”
While much of the club’s turmoil has to do with results on the field, there has also been concern about their image off the pitch. There have been a number of dressing-room issues to begin this season, including Vinicius Jr’s complaints about playing time, as well as recent red cards.
While Alonso may not be sacked just yet, he is clearly pushing the limits of his position.
This is less an indictment of Alonso’s managerial skills than it is his counseling skills. With so many egos needing to be massaged simultaneously, Alonso has been spread thin and will have trouble stopping the locker room from turning on him.
It is really not his fault, but just the unfortunate reality of trying to coach that team.
Haidara on the move (Fabrizio Romano)
RB Leipzig midfielder Amadou Haidara is headed to RC Lens in January:
Neuer praises Kompany (Bundesliga.com @iMiaSanMia)
Bayern Munich captain Manuel Neuer levied some high-praise on head coach Vincent Kompany.
“He knows the game with the media because he was a player himself at a big club and also has experience as a manager, so he knows how to handle it. He’s very open and clear with us. He knows how we want to play and he tries to bring our strengths into the game,” Neuer said. “He gives us the tools we need and it’s also good that young players are being integrated, as well as players who might not have been on anyone’s radar previously.
“The playing style and philosophy work so well that we are able to rotate players, especially with our midweek fixtures. It’s important that the players deliver when they are called upon and that has always been the case up until now. You can see that we are taking on board what the coach is telling us.”
If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…
