The Bayern Bulletin: Luiz Gustavo Transfer Complete? Players on International Duty

Goal: Gunners Get Gustavo for £17.2m

The winner of the Gustavo pageant will soon get their sash.

VfL Wolfsburg and Arsenal are the only two clubs left onstage, both holding their hands together hopeful that judge Luiz Gustavo picks them.

Wait, what's this? I'm getting something in my ear. The winner is... Arsenal?

Goal's Wayne Veysey apparently have some conformation that "Arsenal have had their £17.2 million bid accepted by Bayern Munich." The other details are tricky, so lets defer to the actual story:

Arsenal will step up negotiations with Gustavo's representatives in the coming days as they attempt to thrash out personal terms.

The 26-year-old is on international duty this week and Arsenal would need to be given the permission of the Brazil national team to hold direct talks with the player if they are to force through a quick deal.

– Wayne Veysey, Goal.com

If the passive voice does not hint at incredible ambiguity, keep in mind the fact that FC Bayern are 99 times out of 100 the ones that confirms transfers themselves. That being said, given the fact that the press in Great Britain have a few more moles in those organizations, the facts of this story could end up being true. Since the transfer fee is the only piece of the negotiation in Goal's report, a confirmation could follow in the next few days.

The Metro in London reported a £14 million bid on Sunday, which the Mirror echoed in their own report. The Mirror reported words from Arsene Wenger to support their discoveries.

"There is nothing concrete – at the moment.

"We want to play 55 games this ­season and I think we are a little bit thin squad-wise."

Simon Mullock, Mirror

Just three weeks ago, VfL Wolfsburg thought they were the ones in front, but now they look like they might be crying on stage with their vast amounts of eyeliner running down their face.

As abstract and subjective as it may be, transfermarkt has Luiz Gustavo's transfer value at £16 milion (€18 million). More importantly, if the fee is true, a supposed £17.2 million (~ €20 million) bid would be a nice little profit, not to mention it would cover the €25 million Thiago price tag.

Gustavo, who has two years left on his deal, has only played once in the preseason for FC Bayern, and will play for Brazil's friendly against Switzerland on Wednesday.

FC Bayern National Team

The next round of friendlies in the international stage is set to happen at midweek, and as expected with a world-class organization, FC Bayern München are heavily involved.

Fifteen players got called up to their national teams, which include Germany, Spain, The Netherlands, France, Brazil, Belgium, Croatia, Switzerland, Austria, and Brazil. Here are the players participating, along with their career senior caps and opponents come midweek:

Austria – vs. Greece (2:30 PM EDT)
David Alaba (25)

Belgium – vs. France (3:00 PM EDT)
Daniel van Buyten (71)

Brazil (2) – vs. Switzerland (2:45 PM EDT)
Dante (5)
Luiz Gustavo (10)

Croatia – vs. Liechtenstein (2:15 PM EDT)
Mario Mandžukić (40)

France – vs. Belgium (3:00 PM EDT)
Franck Ribéry (72)

Germany (4) – vs. Paraguay (2:45 PM EDT)
Jérôme Boateng (29)
Philipp Lahm (98)
Thomas Müller (41)
Manuel Neuer (38)

The Netherlands – vs. Portugal (3:30 PM EDT)
Arjen Robben (64)

Peru – vs. Korea Republic (7:00 AM EDT)
Claudio Pizarro (69)

Spain (2) – vs. Ecuador (4:00 PM EDT)
Thiago Alcântara (3)
Javier Martínez (13)

Switzerland – vs. Brazil (2:45 PM EDT)
Xherdan Shaqiri (25)

The three notable players absent will include Mario Götze, Bastian Schweinsteiger, and Toni Kroos. Götze and Schweinsteiger's absences are fitness-related, and Kroos is expecting a little FC Bayern prospect to join his family (aka his wife is on the verge of giving birth).

In Case You Missed It...

– Former FC Bayern defender Breno will soon be a free man, and he might rejoin the FC Bayern family, this time as a coach. Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told Bild that the 23-year old could become a coach:

"We can't announce an implementation, but we are talking with the penal institution. The plan, in the case of success, is that he will work with Wolfgang Dremmler in the front office and would temporarily help as a co-trainer for the second team, as well as play with the appropriate fitness-status."

Karl Heinz Rummenigge, Sport Bild

– FC Bayern II won it's sevent straight match on Saturday, a 4-1 victory over Inglostadt II. After going down 0-1 in the 28th minute, Julian Green and Edwin Schwarz scored within two minutes of each other to put the reserves up for good. Patrick Weihrauch and Bastian Fischer scored in the second half, partially thanks to Rankovic, who assisted on both goals as part of his three goal assists. Manager Erik ten Hag had high praises for his 20-year-old German defender.

"Vladi played an important role. He learns fast, has strong dribbling skills and cross superb."

Erik ten Hag, FC Bayern Official Website

– Let the debate begin! Ribéry finished in the top three in the UEFA Eurpoean Player of the Year with Lionel Messi and Christiano Ronaldo, and similar candidates are expected for the Ballon d'Or. Brazil National Team manager Luiz Felipe Scolari got the discussion rolling with an interview with the Deutsche Fußball Bund Official Website:

"I think Lionel Messi will remain the world's best player for the next one or two years. Messi plays for the team, but also possesses wonderful individual ability. He’s good enough to win a game all on his own. The German stars shine more as team players and less as individuals, so they attract less attention than Messi."

– Luiz Felipe Scolari, DFB.de

Do you think that a Bayern player will be on the shortlist for the Ballon d'Or? If so, who has the best chance? Vote and comment below.

Post any inquires, feedback, or big text rants per usual!

Enjoy your week! and thanks for reading.