Daily Schmankerl: Chelsea in on Lewandowski again; Thiago’s brother wants him back at Barca; and MORE!

Robert Lewandowski is the top target of Chelsea (Daily Star)

Why stop at targeting Christian Pulisic when you can another Bundesliga superstar as well? Chelsea looks like it may make a run for Bayern Munich’s own Polish hitman.

Real Madrid are also anxious to sign the 29-year-old £80m-plus rated hotshot. But Bundesliga giants Bayern are steadfastly refusing to allow Lewandowski his wish to leave after four years in which he has scored 106 goals in 126 appearances.

The Blues were linked with Juventus star Gonzalo Higuain, but Starsport understands Lewandowski has always been their No.1 target this summer. Time is running out for Chelsea and their new manager Maurizio Sarri, with the Premier League transfer window closing in nine days.

Chelsea has been on the outskirts of the Lewandowski pursuit with Real Madrid and Manchester United playing more prominent roles. The exposure of the Premier League would likely appeal to the man focused on his brand, but there isn’t much reason to think Bayern will “all of a sudden” budge on its stance on keeping RL9 in Munich.

Rafinha Alcantara pleads for Thiago’s Barcelona return (Football Espana)

Rafinha Alcantara is pushing for FC Barcelona to make a play for this brother, Thiago. Citing a report by El Mundo Deportivo, the story by Football Espana saw Rafinha Alcantara put forth a sales pitch.

I want to see Thiago play for Barcelona again. He would fit into the style of play with this team perfectly and he is familiar with many (from the national team and former Barca days).

The younger Alcantara also touched on his own future, which is in limbo. Last year, Rafinha Alcantara spent the season with Inter Milan on loan from Barcelona, but there does not appear to be any concrete plans for the central midfielder this season as he has returned to Barcelona.

My own future? I honestly do not know, there is a lot of talk but I am not thinking about it, that is for other people to focus on. I want to play football, whether that is here or somewhere else.

Jose Mourinho apparently has a bit of interest in Thiago as well despite the glut of central midfielders (sound familiar?) on his squad. In a report by the Daily Mail, Thiago is said to be one of the players that Mourinho covets.

With the £52m arrival of Brazilian midfielder Fred, United are well-stocked in central areas. Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Fred, Marouane Fellaini and Ander Herrera will all battle for starting spots this season but United are unwilling to rule out any further quality additions.

Thiago is one of the finest midfield technicans in the world and the former Barcelona star is likely to cause a bidding war if he confirms he wants to depart Bayern Munich. A previous United target under David Moyes, Mourinho is unlikely to want to pass up the opportunity if it becomes available.

The rumored price tag on the head of Thiago Alcantara is reportedly €70M.

Manchester United offering Anthony Martial to Paris Saint-Germain (The Daily Mirror)

Thomas Tuchel may have been ready to pay the alleged €78M that is required for Manchester United’s Anthony Martial, but PSG was put off by Martial’s rumored salary demands. Bayern has been rumored as a potential suitor for Martial, but those rumblings seem to have cooled as well.

In a reverse Schmankerl, PSG wants David Alaba, but the Austrian confirms he’s happy and wants to stay in Munich (Sport1)

Thomas Tuchel has had his eyes on more than just Jerome Boateng apparently.

That PSG coach Thomas Tuchel understands dazzlingly with David Alaba , was on 21 July in Klagenfurt to watch. After the friendly match of FC Bayern Munich against the French Tuchel discovered the Austrians in the parking lot. Tuchel took Alaba warmly into the arm, it did not seem to let him go, whispered something in his ear, shallow with him - and said goodbye to about a minute by handshake and repeated hug in the direction of the team bus. The rumors about a Paris interest in Munich left-back acted so not far-fetched. Tuchel’s flirtation does not seem to be fruitful, at least not this season.

For his part, Alaba took the path of Kingsley Coman and James Rodriguez and asserted his commitment to Bayern:

I play at one of the best clubs in the world, I have another contract until 2021 and I’m not worried about a change now. I concentrate on the essentials. We have a very good squad with very good individual players who can also decide on games, and we have proven over and over again in recent years that we are one of the best clubs in the world. Obviously, we want to be at the top of the championship and also in the cup, but to win the Champions League is also a dream of ours and we will do everything we can to win to fulfill this dream.

I take full credit for this move based on my one-on-one conversation press conference interaction with Alaba a couple of weeks back. Oh you missed that? Well, see the link below. I was a HUGE influence on the man’s life. (Can’t wait to get that commission on his next contract.)

Injury Update: Javi Martinez rounding back into form (@FCBayernEnglish)

After suffering a knock against Juventus last week, Javi Martinez was held out of Saturday’s match against Manchester City. The Spaniard appears to be getting over the injury.

The FC Bayern Frauen has picture day and that means the season is drawing closer...get excited! (@FCBfrauen)

Aside of the men’s first team, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for the women and youth teams in Munich as well. Today was picture day for the Frauen:

Yesterday the team photo was on the program of #FCBFrauen! the results from the shooting am #FCBayernCampus soon to be seen-stay tuned! ♦ #MiaSanMia️