Daily Schmankerl: transfer news on Pulisic, Vidal, Thiago, Coman, and Sanches; plus Audi Tour happenings and MORE!

Bayern competing with Real Madrid and Chelsea for Christian Pulisic (The Daily Mail)

Reports out of England have Christian Pulisic back on the radar of Bayern Munich, but procuring the American won’t be easy given the heavyweights doing battle for his services.

Real Madrid have made inquiries for Bayern Munich and Chelsea target Christian Pulisic. The USA international underlined his talent with a man-of-the-match display and two goals for Borussia Dortmund in their 3-1 win over Liverpool in Charlotte on Sunday. The 19-year-old is Bayern Munich’s No 1 target to replace Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery but his progressive performances have prompted Madrid to take notice too.

So, a few months back there were some rumblings on Bayern’s potential interest in Pulisic, but it has been all quiet since. Regardless, if Die Roten want to make a run at him, they will have some big-name competition.

The European champions are wary that Chelsea will not sell Eden Hazard this window and that Neymar will stay at Paris Saint-Germain so [they] are looking at other options. Pulisic plays as a winger but can also play behind the striker and is valued at around £60million.

Chelsea are among the English clubs who have posted interest in Pulisic, as have Liverpool and Manchester United, but the presence of European powerhouses Madrid and Bayern could make any Premier League transfer difficult. Barcelona also like Pulisic but are pressing ahead with a £65m deal for Chelsea’s Willian for now and want to see whether Ousmane Dembele can kick on before making a decision on the Dortmund talent.

Thiago targeted by Juventus (Calciomercato)

Thiago Alcantara is basically wanted by most big clubs on Earth at this point. Yesterday we saw Manchester City get back in the mix, but previously Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Barcelona among others were all putting out feelers for the midfield maestro. Now, Juventus may be looking at Thiago to ride shotgun with Cristiano Ronaldo in Turin.

According to the latest reports from Italian newspaper Tuttosport, Juventus are lining up a potential replacement for Miralem Pjanic, who has been linked with moves to Chelsea, Manchester City and Barcelona so far this summer. Juventus’ dream for the post-Pjanic [era] appears to be Bayern Munich’s former Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara, brother [of] Rafinha Alcantara, who spent the 2nd half of last season on loan at Juventus’ Serie A rivals Inter Milan.

Thiago, 27, has asked to leave Bayern Munich and requested that the club sell him to Barcelona, yet the La Liga giants appear to be more focused on Adrien Rabiot and Miralem Pjanic, rather than the Spaniard. Meanwhile, Pjanic has been offered to PSG by his entourage, yet the Parisian club look to wrap up the saga revolving around Adrien Rabiot before they make a formal offer for the Bosnian midfielder.

Manchester United to battle Inter Milan for Arturo Vidal (@cfbayern)

According to reports from the Chilean media, Bayern Munich has given Arturo Vidal permission to find a new home and Inter Milan and Manchester United appear to be the leaders in the clubhouse to sign him.

According to Chilean media, Arturo Vidal’s agent, Fernando Felicevich, is already in Munich for negotiations. Bayern is ready to give up the midfielder. Inter Milan is interested in signing him, but so is Manchester United @SPORTBILD

The initial report stemmed from the Chilean outlet El Mercurio, lending further credence to the rumors that Vidal is on his way out of Munich.

Kingsley Coman brushes off Arsenal rumors (Metro)

British outlet Metro captured a Sport1 report where a player actually addressed a rumor head-on and gave a response to it. That player was Kingsley Coman. When Sport1 asked about reports about a move to Unai Emery’s Gunners, Coman was quick and decisive.

That’s not true. I’ve had no contact with Arsenal. I’ve just extended my contract here at Bayern and I’m planning to stay for many more years.

It is refreshing in many ways to see an athlete directly address something and respond.

Renato Sanches shot down by The Old Lady (Calciomercato)

The Portuguese 20-year old was offered up to Juventus, but the Old Lady did not bite.

Calciomercato’s Fabrizio Romano understands Jorge Mendes offered Juventus the chance to sign Renato Sanches in the last few weeks. The Old Lady rejected the chance, as Fabio Paratici and Beppe Marotta kindly turned down a possible deal. Juventus were not confident of signing a player like Sanches for 40 million euros — someone who doesn’t give too many guarantees despite spending so much money on a player. And while Miralem Pjanic could leave Juventus this summer, they don’t feel Sanches would be the man to replace him, with N’Golo Kante the priority to replace him.

Juventus would have been an interesting place for Sanches to land, but until there is roster movement, Sanches is a part of the Bayern midfield logjam.

A bemused Karl-Heinz Rummenigge effectively says “no comment” on Hoeness’s Özil rant (@altobelli13)

Rummenigge: “I don’t have anything to say. Today was Uli’s day!” And then laughing: “We’re now taking turns!”

The FCB Frauen had a great first day in training (FCBayern.com)

Head coach Thomas Wörle was excited to see his squad in action:

We are looking forward to getting started again and want to go full throttle and attack! We can happily show ourselves in three competitions, the Champions League, the Cup and the Championship.

One of the things the Frauen will be working on is ensuring that newcomers to the team have a smooth transition. Wörle said,

With Kathy Hendrich we have gained a player with great, defensive strengths. She is very fast, versatile, reliable in her game and in her duels very strong! Lina Magull has come a great way in recent years. She is a very creative offensive player, she is a goal-scare and I’m really looking forward to her jokes because you never know exactly what she’s going to do next. Laura Benkhardt, the German number two in goal, is unfortunately injured and will be out for a while.

Hendrich, who came to Munich from Frankfurt, shared the anticipation of her new coaches:

I’m happy to be with the team and I was very well received. I want to win titles with the team and I’m confident that we can do a lot! I want to be a team player, I want to do my best in every training session, always recommend myself and give my all in the upcoming games to be there for the team and together to win.

Franck Ribery and David Alaba visit the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (@FCBayernUS)

Bayern players Franck Ribery and David Alaba took some time from their respective schedules yesterday to hang out with running back Corey Clement and kicker Jake Elliott of the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Bayern boys headed over to the the Eagles training facility, the Nova Care Complex, which is a short walk from Lincoln Financial Field where Bayern is training and will play on Juventus on Wednesday night.

This is another reason why @FCBayernUS is one of the best social media accounts around (@FCBayernUS)