Daily Schmankerl: Arp update; Thiago and Vidal news; Mai is injured; and MORE!

The final plan for getting Jann-Fiete Arp to Bayern is being developed (Bild)

This one resides behind the infamous Bild paywall, but the news outlet is reporting that Jann-Fiete Arp to Bayern Munich is essentially a done deal. The only hitch is when exactly Arp will make move. If Arp leaves this summer, Bayern is on the hook for a transfer fee. If he spends another year with Hamburger SV, he would come free.

It’s a fact: The youngster is under contract another year. He will leave HSV at the latest then. He has already reached an agreement with Bayern. The only thing left is to decide when he will move to Munich: this summer or 2019?

Are you on board the Arp hype-train?

Marc-André ter Stegen would LOVE to being Thiago back to Barcelona (@LovellLowdown)

ESPN writer Mark Lovell extracted an interesting tidbit from a Sport Bild report that throws a little more fuel on the “Thiago to Barca” fire.

Arturo Vidal has Flamengo on his mind (Calciomercato.com)

After being linked to Napoli, Juventus, Chelsea, and Manchester United, does Arturo Vidal have his sights set on a future in Rio de Janeiro with Flamengo?

Bayern Munich’s Arturo Vidal had this to say about his future as he quickly spoke to Mundo Deportivo: “ Flamengo? Yes that’s a good idea. I know Renato Augusto well and he always talks about the club well. It would be nice to play for them, I am ready to listen to what they have to say.

Okay then.

The Bayern-Manchester United friendly was part of the Bastian Schweinsteiger deal (Bild)

Per a Bild report, the August friendly between Bayern and Manchester United was part of the transfer deal for legendary midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Speaking of Basti, he likes the chances of Die Mannschaft (The Athletic)

Schweinsteiger likes Germany in the World Cup should they play to their lofty and much-heralded potential.

I expect them to show the world again what it means to play for Germany, to show the world the tradition of the Germans, which actually, other countries are kind of jealous about. Of course, they have to go game by game. Of course, they are one of the favorites, for me, the No. 1 favorite, even though there are other teams, three or four, that can also win the tournament in my eyes. It’s up to them to show it.

Joshua Kimmich and Manuel Neuer are popular in Russia (@DW_Sports)

Germany had an estimated 200 visitors at its training session and apparently Manuel Neuer and Joshua Kimmich were among the players who were a big hit.

Spain knows how to kick off a party! Lopetegui axed two days before World Cup starts! (@FOXSoccer)

This could hinder Spain’s World Cup chances a bit....or maybe not. We need more info!!

Respected soccer journalist Grant Wahl attributed the Real Madrid announcement of Lopetegui as the new Los Blancos coach to be the catalyst behind the sacking.

Lars Lukas Mai suffered a knee injury (FCBayern.com)

Lars Lukas Mai, who recently signed a professional contract with Bayern, suffered a knee injury and is expected to miss an undisclosed period of time.

Bitter news for the amateurs of FC Bayern! The reserve of the record champion has to do without central defenders Lukas Mai and Maxime Awoudja for several weeks. Mai, who signed a professional contract with the FCB a few weeks ago, and Awoudja, who played 29 times in the Regionalliga Bayern last season, both drew a break in the inside tie in his right knee.

Maxie Awoudja, a less heralded Bayern reserve player, also suffered a knee injury and is out of commission as well.

Bayern reserve center back Thomas Isherwood signed with Bradford City (BradfordCityFC.co.uk)

Bayern reserve center back Thomas Isherwood had been rumored to be seeking a new home and finally did yesterday when inked a deal with Bradford City.

The Bantams have swooped to secure the eye-catching signing of Swedish defender Thomas Isherwood from Bayern Munich. The 20 year-old giant central defender moves to the Northern Commercials Stadium for an undisclosed fee after penning an initial two-year deal. Isherwood, who stands at 6’ 4’’, has represented Sweden at international level from Under 15s up to Under 19s. The left-sided defender was born in Sweden but he is also eligible to represent England. Isherwood’s mother is Swedish but his father is English, with sections of his family still based in Manchester.

Bayern’s depth at center back probably played a role in Isherwood moving on (hopefully that knee injury to Mai is nothing too serious!) as the youngster had been rumored to be in talks with several teams recently.

Isherwood was linked with Manchester City prior to his move to Bayern’s reserve set-up in 2015. Isherwood has featured twice for Bayern’s first team in friendly fixtures in the past, but the Swede has played the vast majority of his football with their second team, Bayern Munich II. His presence in the air, relative pace, and good reading of the game is believed to have caught the attention of both Rangers and Celtic ahead of Isherwood’s move to Valley Parade.

The FC Bayern Frauen will hit Switzerland for some excellent competition in August (FCBayern.com)

The FC Bayern Frauen will participate in the Womens Cup 2018 in Switzerland later this summer.

The FC Bayern women will participate in the WomensCup 2018, an international women’s football tournament in Switzerland, from 17 to 19 August. There the Munich women meet the women’s teams of the Swiss champion FC Zurich, PSV Eindhoven and the Champions League quarter-finalist SK Slavia Prague. The venue is the Raiffeisen Arena in Hägendorf, centrally located between the major Swiss cities of Zurich, Lucerne, Bern and Basel.

FC Bayern Frauen manager Bianca Rech is excited at the prospect of facing such good competition early in the year.

It’s a great advantage that we can compete with high-quality teams at the Womens Cup 2018. Thus, we have the opportunity to test at the European peak level during the pre-season preparation. The tournament participation also offers an excellent platform to present FC Bayern Munich in Switzerland on an international basis.