Daily Schmankerl: Barcelona want David Alaba (again)

Barcelona | Bartomeu wants David Alaba? (AS)

According to the incredibly reliable AS.com (that’s a joke by the way, they’re not reliable at all), Barcelona apparently want to sign Bayern Munich’s dear left back David Alaba. The chances of this happening are very slim, practically nonexistent since Alaba’s contract runs till 2021, but I guess everyone is allowed to dream.

Sorry Barca, make do with Alba. His name sort of sounds the same.

Arsenal sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Dortmund for £56m (ESPN)

Arsenal have completed the signing of striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of €63.75 million (£56m, $79m). If Robert Lewandowski was worried about winning the Torjägerkanone before, he shouldn’t anymore.

Niklas Süle: Aubameyang’s situation couldn’t happen at Bayern (Sport1)

So Bayern defender Niklas Süle set about defending Bayern recently, saying that Aubameyang’s situation couldn’t have happened had he been a member of the Bavarians. He presumably agrees with Uli Hoeness, who would have shown that naughty Auba a thing or two. Thanks Süle.

Contract update on Robbery, Rafinha, Sven | Heynckes praises Vidal (ESPN)

According to kicker, Bayern are holding off on a decision to extend Robben and Ribery until April or May. The club wants to see how they perform. While Robben is relaxed, Ribery is reportedly annoyed. The Frenchman is dead-set on staying in Munich and feels he has a lot to offer. Sven Ulreich meanwhile has offers from the UK but is leaning toward extending if he can be guaranteed some Pokal games, while Rafinha may be tempted to return to Brazil come summertime.

Jupp Heynckes praised Arturo Vidal: “For me, he's rock solid. He doesn't need to worry about his place.” ESPN's translation “he's a guaranteed starter” is a little too specific. Heynckes literally calls vidal “a bank,” i.e. someone reliable you can bank on.

Injury update: Mats Hummels back in team training (FCBayern.com)

Hummels is back after recovering from illness. It looks like the bug has bitten Arturo Vidal, though: he missed practice today with a stomach infection. Sandro Wagner, who had to break of practice yesterday, trained individually. Thiago has also been inching his way toward his comeback lately.

Bayern Munich's Thomas Müller: World football's last hometown boy turned one-club wonder (bundesliga.com)

A nice piece on bundesliga.com about our very own Thomas Muller. Give it a look if you’re interested (why wouldn’t you be?).

Here’s the version by 442oons

Lewandowski is really, REALLY good