Report: Bayern Munich not in contact with Ralf Rangnick; interest in Mauricio Pochettino?

Niko Kovac’s contract with Bayern Munich runs through 2021, but speculation over his future has sparked suggestions that Bayern’s front office might already be lining up potential replacements should they decide to axe him prior to the end of his contract. Of course, the same type of rumors floated around last season after a series of poor results for Bayern, but Kovac went on to lead the team to a domestic double.

Former Hoffenheim and RB Leipzig manager Ralf Rangnick has been one of the most recent figures rumored to be a potential replacement for Kovac. Per Sport1, though, there has been no official contact between Rangnick and Bayern. Currently, Rangnick serves as the head of international relations and scouting at Leipzig and is under contract for another year and a half. That would, in theory, make him a viable option if Kovac fulfills his contract. However, Uli Hoeness has always been a staunch critic of Rangnick and was of the opinion that he wouldn’t fit at Bayern. Rangnick could become a more realistic option when Hoeness steps down in November, although he will still be a powerful board member.

Sport1’s Florian Plettenberg made sure to clear up some (potential) misinterpreting of the article itself when Bild’s Christian Falk peremptorily labeled it “not true”:

What exactly is “not true” then? It says in the text: at the moment, no direct contact, a broad front against him, Kovac wants to gut it out. This information is: ✓! It says nowhere and I did not write that he is “not an option.”

Pochettino in Bavaria?

While Rangnick might be a decent option for Bayern in the future, a potentially better candidate available after Kovac might be available. Sport1 highlighted the fact that sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic is a big fan of Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino. They report that the two met during the Audi Cup over the summer when Spurs took on Bayern at the Allianz Arena. The subject of their conversation is unknown, but it’s not impossible that the topic of managing Bayern in the future came up. Pochettino is currently under contract with the North London side until 2023, but they have had a difficult season thus far, and club chairman Daniel Levy could decide to replace him at some point if Tottenham continue to struggle.

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