Bayern Bulletin: Laporte Open to Bayern Transfer, Telekom Cup Field Set

Laporte Open to Bayern Transfer

With Bayern Munich and Barcelona sniffing around his services, Aymeric Laporte told le 10 sport that he would be open to a move away from Athletic Bilbao.

"Obviously it makes you want big clubs like that. I must continue my momentum, trying to win every game, work hard, and then what will it be more of. My clause of €36M? It is they who decide, not me"

via FC Bayern Forum

Sport Bild linked Bayern with the France U-21 player in April, reporting that Athletic Bilbao will ask for the full €36 million release clause in order to obtain their 19-year-old star.

Laporte has spent a majority of his pitch time in central defense, although he is familiar with the left fullback position as well. With Karl-Heinz Rummenigge granting Diego Contento a departure at his wish, Laporte would be a more than suitable replacement.

Telekom Cup Field Set; Bayern face Mönchengladbach

The Telekom Cup has set its four team field, with Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hamburg SV, and VfL Wolfsburg joining Bayern in the 2014 preseason tournament. Bayern will play Mönchengladbach to start the tournament, a rematch of the Telekom Cup final last summer.

"We're really looking forward to taking part in the top-class Telekom Cup again, and this year as the holders," Karl-Heinz Rummenigge told the club's website.

The two day tournament will start on July 26 and take place at Imtech Arena in Hamburg.

Lahm: "Our goal was never to be a second Barça"

With Guardiola's system under fire after the 0-4 dismantling by Real Madrid, Philipp Lahm defended his gaffer in an interview with Sport Bild, saying that Bayern's style was not the same as Barcelona.

"FC Bayern never played tiki-taka, like it is always defined, but found a unique art to play successfully at the highest level with Guardiola. We will continue working at it.

"Our go was never to become a second Barça. We showed with Pep Guardiola over two thirds of the season that we can play a unique, successful style, precise and dangerous in attack and yes, like Barcelona, with a lot of possession. Possession means control over events."

Sport Bild (via tz-online)

Lahm headlined the transition from Jupp Heynckes to Guardiola, moving from his critically acclaimed fullback position to the center of midfield. With Bayern in the hunt for one more trophy, the Spaniard's first season could still be a rather decorated one.