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Griezmann being eyed by Bayern and others (Sport)
Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann is rumored to want a change of scenery. Interestingly, the ongoing “will he or won’t he” transfer saga of Lucas Hernandez is playing a role in why Griezmann may want out. Among the suitors are Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and alleged frontrunner Manchester United.
Nine months after Antoine Griezmann appeared in his own documentary about his decision over whether to stay at Atletico Madrid or join Barcelona, the Frenchman has changed his mind.
He was promised a winning team, with Lucas Hernandez’s contract renewed and Thomas Lemar joining - both requested by Griezmann - and Diego Simeone convinced him not to become a lackey for Messi. They gave him a 23m euro a season contract. But with Lucas and Diego Godin thinking about leaving, Griezy now wonders if he should leave.
Not even winning the World Cup earned him the Ballon d’Or, in conjunction with the Europa League. The No 7 will not be short of offers, despite his huge salary. Bayern Munich and Manchester United are frontrunners, particularly the English side.
PSG would have no problems in signing Griezmann and may want to add him to a fearsome attack with Neymar and Mbappe. Barca and Madrid, meanwhile, haven’t moved a piece in the Griezmann game of chess.
Report: Colombian star might be causing a rift in the Bayern front office (Marca)
Marca thinks that the decision on whether to purchase James Rodriguez or to let him go back to Real Madrid is dividing the Bayern decision-makers.
James Rodriguez is the most talked about player currently at Bayern Munich, not only for his recent exploits on the field but over the uncertainty regarding his future. The Colombian scored a hat-trick for the Bavarians in a 6-0 win over Mainz in the Bundesliga on the weekend and is arguably in his best form since he moved to Germany in the summer of 2017. Rodriguez has become a mainstay in the first team under Niko Kovac but doubt continues as to whether the club will take up the option to sign him on a permanent basis.
The Bayern camp looks split over the decision with chief executive officer Karl Heinz Rummenigge keen to pay the 42 million euros agreed upon by the club and Real Madrid, yet Kovac has his doubts.
Barca makes formal offer for De Ligt (Sport)
Sport is reporting that FC Barcelona has made a €60m offer to Ajax for center back Matthijs de Ligt.
Barcelona believe they can seal the signing of Matthijs de Ligt within a month. The Catalans have been playing their cards and have launched their final offensive for the Ajax player after the Dutch side beat Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Barca have offered around 60 million euros plus variables for the Dutchman and a five year contract on similar numbers to that which they gave his friend and teammate Frenkie de Jong. It’s a long-term deal with a lot of objectives built in, with numbers that will increase during his time with the team. Sources close to the negotiation say the transfer is on track and the club are very optimistic, but nobody wants to assure anything until it’s signed.
It is beginning to look more and more like Bayern is out of the running on the Dutch star.
Matthaus makes call for Ter Stegen to start for Die Mannschaft (Barca Blaugranes)
Lothar Matthaus thinks it is time for FC Barcelona’s Marc-Andre ter Stegen to be the starter between the sticks for Germany. Our sister site Barca Blaugranes captured a quote in Bild from Matthaus detailing his rationale.
Marc-Andre ter Stegen is on international duty with Germany and there are calls the Barcelona captain should start over current No. 1 Manuel Neuer. Manager Joachim Low has axed several big names from his latest squad but has insisted Neuer remains his first choice, despite Ter Stegen’s consistently excellent form for the Catalan giants. Former Germany captain Lothar Matthaus has given his view and reckons Ter Stegen deserves the chance to stake a claim for a starting spot.
“The captain’s armband cannot decide whether you’re playing or sitting on the bench,” he told Bild. “Ter Stegen has earned a fair chance due to his world-class achievements over the past two years. If you decide with the performance principle, it has to be valid for everybody.”
Zorc wants Reus at BVB forever (Sport1)
Borussia Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc knows how vital Marco Reus is to his club.
Marco is an identification figure and deeply rooted in Dortmund, I can not and do not want to imagine him playing for another club.
Reus has been Dortmund’s most important player for years, but now he has the added weight of being Germany’s true leader on the pitch (sorry Manuel Neuer). Minus Thomas Müller, Jerome Boateng, and Mats Hummels, Reus will absolutely be the man the younger players look to for on-field leadership.
Reus has embraced that role with his club and we’ll find out during this international break how he handles it for his country.