Daily Schmankerl: Germany hits the training ground; rumors on Jerome Boateng and James Rodriguez; and MORE!

Die Mannschaft hits the pitch (@DFB_Team_EN)

Without the likes of regular roster members Jerome Boateng (rest), Marc-André ter Stegen (rest, balky shoulder), and Julian Draxler (bereavement), Joachim Low and Germany will look to get Die Mannschaft pointed in the right direction in a friendly against Russia on Friday and a UEFA Nations League match against the Netherlands on Tuesday.

The updated roster is as follows:

Italian publication fuels speculation that James Rodriguez will become available (Calciomercato)

The vultures are circling over the career of James Rodriguez at Bayern Munich.

James Rodriguez is a case. The Colombian attacking midfielder remained on the bench for all the 90 minutes of the match lost by Bayern Munich against Borussia Dortmund last weekend. The exclusion - the second consecutive, after the one in the Champions League against AEK Athens - has given the fuel to new discussions about the future of the player. In this situation, even the doubts about the buyback of the player by the German champions could increase: James could return to Real Madrid (to which he is bound by a contract until 2021) at the end of this season. But his name, thanks to the direction of Jorge Mendes, has entered in the last few weeks under the lens of Juventus.

James Rodriguez has played 8 matches in this season wearing Bayern Munich shirt in Bundesliga, scoring 3 goals. In Champions League, he has been on the bench 3 times, with no goal scored and one assist completed.

Manchester United still would like to take a run at Jerome Boateng (Sports Mole)

Even after a phone call saying “Thanks, but no thanks” to Jose Mourinho from Jerome Boateng, Manchester United still would love to bring in the Bayern defender.

Manchester United are reportedly still interested in bringing Bayern Munich defender Jerome Boateng to the club. Boateng was one of a number of centre-backs linked with a move to Old Trafford during the summer transfer window as United looked to bolster their defensive options without success.

Manager Jose Mourinho has made signing a new central defender the club’s number one priority when the window reopens in January. German publication Bild reports that Boateng is still one of the players on United’s list of potential targets and that their chances of landing him have increased due to Bayern’s poor start to the season.

Bayern’s hierarchy are understood to be concerned by the power a number of players hold in the dressing room and are considering shipping out some established names over the next two transfer windows.

Xherdan Shaqiri talks similarities of Bayern and Liverpool (Team Talk)

Former Bayern man Xherdan Shaqiri spoke a bit on his time at Bayern and how it compares to his current club, Liverpool.

I played in Bayern Munich with Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben so I knew it already! It was nothing new for me. I knew already how good these very talented players (were). We have a very good team, a young team also, so our process is going very well and I’m just proud to be part of this team. I try to give good performances and (pay) the coach and the fans back. It’s difficult to compare. It’s different types of players because there are different coaches, they play a different type of football. But of course the intensity at the highest level, it’s the same at Bayern Munich and Liverpool.

Want to feel old? (@eMiaSanMia)

A call for fan groups (BavarianFootballWorks.com)

We are trying something here at the Daily Schmankerl and need YOUR help. If you read my man Tommy Adams’ piece about his experience with the FCBNYC Fan Club (if you haven’t, SHAME ON YOU!), you could see how great the event was. So we want to highlight some of these wonderful groups that are out there globally and this is what we need from you:

• Name of the group
• Location
• Year founded
• Leadership (if you have people are kind of running the show)
• Meeting place
• Social media handles
• Pictures

We want to be able to feature a different fan group every week this season. Maybe we can do it, maybe not...but only YOU can help decide the fate of this idea. Send your info to: barrelsportsblog@gmail.com