Daily Schmankerl: Updates on Aaron Ramsey, Leroy Sané, and Callum Hudson-Odoi; Germany’s new sponsor; and MORE!

Happy New Year to all of the loyal readers of the Daily Schmankerl! (Bavarian Football Works)

Just wanted to take a quick moment to say thanks to all of the loyal readers of The Daily Schmankerl and Bavarian Football Works. The site and community cannot thrive like it has without the support of you all!

Aaron Ramsey has a list of five clubs he will talk to next summer (BBC)

Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey won’t be leaving London this winter, but he is almost assuredly bolting in the summer. The Welshman has narrowed his list of potential suitors to five clubs.

Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey will hold talks with five of Europe’s leading clubs in January before leaving the Gunners when his contract expires next summer. The 28-year-old is able to negotiate and sign a pre-contract agreement with foreign sides from 1 January, prior to exiting the Emirates Stadium as a free agent when his current deal finishes on 30 June. Ramsey will consider moves to Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, Juventus, Paris St-Germain and Real Madrid. Contrary to some reports, he has not yet made a decision.

Bayern expected to up its bid for Callum Hudson-Odoi (London Football News)

The Bavarians are expected to make another offer for Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Bayern Munich are expected to make Chelsea another offer for Callum Hudson-Odoi after having a bid for the youngster rejected. The Blues have reportedly turned down around £20m (€22m ) for the 18-year-old forward, who has made one Premier League appearance under Maurizio Sarri this season. Reports in Germany say Bayern are determined to land Hudson-Odoi and are about to return with another offer in an effort to get a deal agreed.

The Daily Star went even further, saying that Chelsea has already informed Bayern that it needs to raise its bid significantly.

According to Sky Sports, Stamford Bridge bosses have told Bayern Munich they will have to cough up in excess of £40m (€44m).

The post-Lucas Hernandez planning is on with Atletico Madrid fans (Into the Calderon)

Our sister site, Into the Calderon, took a look at how Lucas Hernandez could be replaced should he leave for Bayern.

A winter storm has ravaged through Atlético Madrid this Christmas time with the news that Bayern Munich are expected to pay Lucas Hernández’s release clause of €80m. First, the club denied it was true. Then Diego Simeone spoke of how he’d be able to accept the defender’s exit. Later, declarations from chief executive Miguel Ángel Gil Marín suggested that los colchoneros are simply buying time and looking to delay the inevitable to the summer.

Atlético have Diego Godín and José María Giménez, who could both start ahead of Lucas at centre-back anyway. Stefan Savić is there too, while Francisco Montero is improving all the time. Then, Atleti already have another up-and-coming left-back on their books in Jonny Castro Otto. He was purchased from Celta Vigo for €7m in the summer and immediately loaned out to Wolverhampton in the Premier League, where he has caught the eye so far this season.

Give the whole piece a read here.

Die Mannschaft is now sponsored by Volkswagen (@DFB_Team_EN)

The sponsorship agreement between the German national team and Mercedes-Benz is over and now Volkswagen’s branding will be featured by the squad.

Brazzo turns 42 (@FCBayernEN)

Leroy Sané’s contract negotiations are lingering for Manchester City (Daily Star)

The Daily Star captured comments made by journalist Sky Sports reporter Dharmesh Sheth on the Transfer Window Podcast that indicate that there are some oddities surrounding German star Leroy Sané’s contract negotiations with with Manchester City.

They have been in talks with Leroy Sane since October. It’s a really weird situation. He had the issues with Germany where he didn’t get in the squad then he wasn’t getting in the City team. I don’t know if something had happened between him and Pep Guardiola but he’s forced his way into the team and his assist record is off the chain at the moment. There have been talks with Sane since October. Guardiola says the talks are going well and that Sane says he feels at home at the Etihad Stadium. It’s quite in keeping with what City are doing at the moment. They have been working hard to tie down nearly the entire squad.

The report seemed to back up what was reported back in November by journalist Duncan Castles on the Transfer Window Podcast (also captured by the Daily Star):

Sane has been somewhat disruptive in the dressing room this season. He was left out of the team earlier in the season by Guardiola because he wasn’t happy with the way he was training. There is a potential contract issue there and a suggestion that Sane would be prepared to move elsewhere if he got a good offer, or use a good offer from elsewhere to leverage his contract situation at Manchester City in exactly the same way that Raheem Sterling has been doing over the last couple of months.