Daily Schmankerl: Rumored Bayern targets Timo Werner and Krzysztof Piatek linked to Real Madrid; Arsenal still wants James; and MORE!

Werner and Piatek linked to Real Madrid (AS)

Rumored Bayern Munich targets Timo Werner and Krzysztof Piatek are reportedly also on the radar of Real Madrid. Werner, of RB Leipzig, and Piatek, of Genoa, are considered two of the hot, young striker prospects in Europe.

Real Madrid are combing the market for a centre-forward and, as was revealed by AS yesterday, have spoken to Poland’s Krzysztof Piatek, whose 13 goals in 19 Serie A games have seen him take Italy by storm since joining Genoa in the summer. Meanwhile, RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner is also understood to be among the possible January targets being looked at by the European champions, who have been left with no fit senior strikers in the wake of Karim Benzema’s hand injury in Sunday’s La Liga win at Real Betis.

When contacted by AS, however, Leipzig were unfazed by talk of the Germany international making a mid-season move to the Santiago Bernabéu. “At this moment in time, we don’t have anything to say about that,” the Bundesliga club told this newspaper when asked whether discussions have taken place with Los Blancos. “We hope Timo scores many more goals for us.”

Xavi Hernandez on Kimmich: “He’s the perfect player for FC Batcelona” (Buli News)

It is safe to say that former Barcelona star Xavi is a big fan of Joshua Kimmich. Buli News extracted an interview from SportBild where he gushes over the Bayern stalwart:

I talked to Pep Guardiola, my ex-coach at Barcelona. He said: ‘I have a player in my team who can play in any position — really!’ I asked him: ‘Who is the boy?’, and he told me something about a man named ‘Kimmich’ that I had honestly never heard anything about before.

Since the day I talked to Pep, I’ve been following (Kimmich’s) career. After all, Pep doesn’t say stuff like that for no reason. When I saw (Kimmich) playing, I knew right away that (Kimmich) could become a great player. And (Kimmich is) today! Joshua is the present and future of FC Bayern and the German national team. And (Kimmich) can really play in any position. With (Kimmich’s) playing style, (Kimmich) would be the perfect player for FC Barcelona.

ICYMI: All of the penalty kicks from Bayern-Dusseldorf (@FCBayernUS)

If you missed all of the penalty kicks from Bayern’s match against Fortuna Dusseldorf in the Telekom Cup, well here you go:

Hoffenheim striker wants to be Lewy (Bundesliga.com)

Hoffenheim’s Brazilian striker Joelinton wants to emulate Bayern’s own “Storm Tank,” Robert Lewandowski. In an interview with Bundesliga.com, Joelinton admitted that he tries to learn what he can by watching Lewandowski.

Bundesliga.com: There aren’t a lot of classic 9s in Germany either. The best centre-forward in the league might be a Pole, Robert Lewandowski, and he plays for your next opponents. Do you try to watch and learn from him?

Joelinton: Yes, of course. Every season, he scores lots of goals and has done so for years. He’s a world-class player.

Arsenal still wants James (Daily Mail)

Another day, another James Rodriguez rumor.

Arsenal have put James Rodriguez on their list of potential signings in the transfer window - and he could cost them just £3million. The 27-year-old Colombian midfield star is out of favour at Bayern Munich where he is on a two-year loan deal from Real Madrid. That move cost the Bundesliga outfit around £11.5m, with an option to buy for £39.5m when it expires.

Rodriguez was signed by former Bayern chief Carlo Ancelotti but his successor Niko Kovac has opted not to use him as a regular. That has alerted Arsenal. Manager Unai Emery has already publicly stated that he is only empowered to sign loan players this month. Bayern would let Rodriguez go if Arsenal pay the £3m to which Real would be entitled for the last six months of his loan.

Just a hint, we will be running something a little later that refutes Bayern’s willingness to sell James.