With its pursuit of Javi Martinez having come to naught, FCB is looking to buy Lars Bender from Bayer Leverkusen, according to Der Spiegel and Süddeutsche Zeitung. JH hinted at this in an extended talk he gave Friday. The Leverkusen president immediately complained that there had been a gentlemen's agreement between the clubs not to make the discussion public, and he categorically ruled the possibility of a transfer regardless of the price. KHR subsequently remarked that a price could obviously be found and that the only question is whether Bayern would be prepared to pay it.

Bender signed a contract until 2017 with Bayer Leverkusen shortly before the EM. His transfer price is expected to be around 20M euros.