Bidding would need to start at nine figures for Karl — and that probably wouldn’t get deal done (Sport Bild’s Christian Falk)
How serious is Bayern Munich about keeping Lennart Karl in tow? Well, enough that it might take as much as nine figures to even get the Bavarians to entertain the thought of a deal — and even that might not
be enough:
Lennart Karl’s contract will automatically extend on his birthday (until 2029) on 22 February. Bayern won’t sell this player. They don’t want to sell this player. He’s very much a player for the future. He’s German, and he comes from the Bayern campus. They also intend to sign him up on a longer contract, before the World Cup, until 2031. There are talks with his agent, Michael Ballack, which I believe will succeed in the end and see the youngster earn more money. Even if this doesn’t work out, FC Bayern won’t sell Karl now. He’s a firm part of Vincent Kompany’s plans, and they won’t give him away – not even to Real Madrid.
For the record, every interested club in the world would have to think about an offer well over €100m [£87m]. Real Madrid have to bring this offer in, and only then will Bayern Munich discuss it. They obviously brought in Luis Diaz this summer for €70m [£60.9m]; he’s a very good player, but he’s not young anymore, so resale value is out of the question. Nor is he German. So, if you have a talent like Lennart Karl, you have to treat him like the future of Bayern Munich. In that case, €100m is arguably not enough!
Karl, who is in the midst of a tough stretch as he attempts to navigate the workload of his first season in the Bundesliga, looks to be a building block for the club and even though some fans become annoyed at his recent comments regarding Real Madrid, it still looks as if he has a bright future ahead of him in Bavaria.
Díaz…the best around? (Football Transfers)
Per one advanced statistical site, Bayern Munich winger Luis Díaz has been the best player in the world this season:
Despite a record summer spend of over €450 million, Liverpool lie sixth in England’s top-flight and could potentially miss out on the Champions League next season if they cannot rediscover their form.
Meanwhile, Diaz is hitting unparalleled heights with Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga, with the German club’s €70 million looking one of the bargains of the season, with the Colombian now the best player in the world, according to one expert source.
Diaz has eclipsed Manchester City’s Erling Haaland as the world’s best player, according to SciSports’ SciSkill rating. This gives every player a value based on hundreds of in-game data points over a prolonged period.
The form of the 29-year-old in the Bundesliga has been particularly eye-catching. In 19 appearances, he has scored 10 goals and directly assisted nine more. Even allowing for Bayern’s strength and the open nature of German football, these are formidable numbers.
This has seen Diaz’s SciSkill rise 15.7 points to 141.4 while his Bayern team-mate Harry Kane has followed him into second place with 135.6.
Díaz has been an absolute godsend to the Bavarians this season, but some could argue he might only be the third best player in the attack this season! Regardless, his impact has been sensational and help transform the attack into something that every opponent should fear.
Falk says Goretzka liked Arsenal offer, but didn’t want to break word (Sport Bild’s Christian Falk)
The reports that Arsenal made a late offer for Leon Goretzka was certainly interesting and per Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk it was legitimate. In addition, the potential move was attractive to Goretzka.
So why didn’t he make the move? Well, Goretzka is a man of his word…and his word is oak (unlike this guy):
✅ It is TRUE: Arsenal made an offer for Leon Goretzka shortly before the transfer deadline. This was a very interesting option for the German, but at this point, he’d already decided he wouldn’t move in the winter. When Atletico Madrid knocked at his door, he made an official statement on his Instagram account – as did Bayern Munich. It’s not the way of Goretzka to break his word at the last minute – even for Arsenal!
I think he has a good idea for the Premier League. He believes his playing style suits the English top-flight. There’s still, also, the interest from Atletico Madrid, so plenty of options for the future. Italy is also an opportunity, with interest from Juventus, Milan, Napoli. Arsenal, of course, would have been interesting for the midfielder, but the offer came too late on deadline day, which didn’t leave anyone enough time to react. What a pity for Arsenal and Goretzka!
In a world of betrayal and deception, it is kind of nice when someone actually commits to do what they say they will do — as much as some fans will bemoan this 🤣.
Barca to ink Rashford permanently? (ESPN)
FC Barcelona wants to sign Marcus Rashford to a permanent deal. To get that done, Barca will have to trigger his release clause and work out any final details with Manchester United:
Barcelona have made the decision to sign on-loan Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford on a permanent basis. Diario Sport reports that Barça are set to activate the €30 million option clause in the 28-year-old’s deal and plan to offer him a three-year contract at the Camp Nou amid belief that it would be impossible to find a player of his level for a lower fee. Rashford’s impressive form in the current campaign has seen him directly contribute to 23 goals in 33 matches across all competitions.
Ronaldo’s future in doubt as Al Nassr eyes replacements (ESPN)
Cristiano Ronaldo has had himself as week.
Holding his own, personal boycott, Ronaldo could be setting himself up for a move back home to Portugal and, in turn, Al Nassr is eyeing other stars to fill the void he will leave:
Cristiano Ronaldo could leave Al Nassr to rejoin Sporting CP, while Saudi Pro League officials are hoping to replace the Portugal star with either Mohamed Salah or Bruno Fernandes, according to The I Paper. Ronaldo missed a second straight game for Al Nassr on Friday amid his ongoing dispute with the club, with sources telling ESPN that the 41-year-old is currently boycotting games because he is unhappy with the help for his team from the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) in the winter transfer window. Sporting have been linked with re-signing their former youth player, who has a £43 million release clause in his contract that becomes active in the summer. According to The I Paper, Saudi officials are no longer worried if Ronaldo leaves, and instead will intensify their efforts to replace him. Both Liverpool forward Salah and Manchester United midfielder Fernandes have been long-term targets for the league.
Bayern will have competition for rumored midfield target (CaughtOffside)
If Bayern Munich truly wants midfielder Kees Smit, it will have to outduel the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United for the AZ Alkmaar phenom:
Premier League clubs are increasingly shaping the direction of the Kees Smit transfer saga, with England emerging as the most likely destination for one of European football’s most coveted young midfielders.
The 20-year-old AZ Alkmaar standout has attracted sustained interest from Arsenal, Liverpool, and Manchester United, all of whom explored potential deals during the January transfer window, sources close to the agents industry have informed CaughtOffside.
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…
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