Daily Schmankerl: Malcom to Bayern Munich?

Bayern Munich supposedly ready to beat Arsenal and Tottenham to signing Malcom (Mirror)

According to the Mirror, Bayern Munich have joined the race for Bordeaux’s 20-year-old Brazilian star Malcom. True to the ethos of the British press, the Mirror cites not a shred of evidence or a single source, so take this rumor as you will. In theory, Malcom would be a “sensational acquisition” for Bayern as the club wrestles with the dilemma of how to replace Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery.

Malcom has 8 goals and 6 assists to his name this season in Ligue 1. He has said he will be free to leave Bordeaux for a new club this summer. For more about Malcom, see this useful article at HITC and our own scouting report.

Schalke's Max Meyer: Xabi Alonso's Royal Blue heir (Bundesliga.com)

Max Meyer has gone from faltering False 9 to world-class No.6 at Schalke.​ He has outperformed Dortmund's Julian Weigl this season, but the heir to Xabi Alonso? Really? There have in fact been rumors (e.g. here on TZ) that Max Meyer might follow his teammate Leon Goretzka to Munich: like the latter, Meyer's contract also expires at the end of the season and he has yet to sign an extension. He might not go to Bayern, given the competition, but a destination elsewhere remains a distinct possibility.

Douglas Costa confesses game manipulation—but was afraid for his life at the time (TZ)

Douglas Costa made an unusually candid disclosure last week: No, not match fixing, but he revealed he and his teammates at Gremio deliberately lost their last game of 2009 against Flamengo Rio de Janeiro. Had Gremio won, their fierce local rivals Internacional would have won the championship. Costa said, “If we had beaten Flamengo, we could have died. The Gremio fans would have wanted to kill us.” In the second half, Costa just “dribbled only far away from the goal. Flamengo won and everyone was happy.” (Brief summary in English here.)

Bayern Munich can cash in on €6.5 million by making the Champions League quarterfinals (Abendzeitung)

A 5:0 lead over Besiktas Istanbul sets Bayern Munich on course to make some serious Champions League money. If Bayern Munich make the quarterfinals, they will earn a cool €6.5 million—on top of their impressive Champions League earnings this season to date. In a best-case scenario, as the only German club left in the Champions League, Bayern could make a total of €57.2 million in prize money—and more.

Salihamidzic promises roster spots for top youth talents (BFW)

Bayern Munich's sporting director has pledged to make good its objective to cultivate home-grown talents. BFW takes a look at the up-and-coming players on Bayern II who could make the jump to the first team.

Ingolstadt score as Duisburg’s goalie takes a water break

Just stand really still and pretend you’re on your line and not standing inside the goal...