Daily Schmankerl: Bayern Munich scoping Antoine Griezmann; Liverpool is desperate for Matthijs de Ligt, while Manchester United thought he’d get fat; James Rodriguez and Paul Pogba news; plus MORE!

Bayern taking a look at Griezmann? (Marca)

Citing a report by Cadena COPE, Bayern Munich is allegedly taking a close look at outgoing Atletico Madrid star Antoine Griezmann.

Bayern Munich have joined Barcelona and PSG in the race to sign Antoine Griezmann, according to Cadena COPE.

Griezmann is expected to command well over €100m, which would seem kind of crazy for Bayern at this stage. FC Barcelona should be considered the clear leader in the clubhouse for Griezmann at this stage.

If Bayern is going to drop €100m, it will be on Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz.

Klopp making late run at De Ligt (Transfer Market Web)

Liverpool is trying to make a last-ditch effort to sign Ajax center back Matthijs de Ligt by trying to convince him that a pairing with Virgil van Dijk would be dreamy.

While the player himself hinted to the chance for that kind of move, Liverpool management, according to latest UK news, are planning to try (signing) Dutch international center-back Matthijs De Ligt (19) to Virgil Van Dijk. Ajax’s rising star is tracked hard by Barcelona as well.

United advised to avoid De Ligt due to “hefty” concerns (The Mirror)

A Dutch scout advised Manchester United that it should pass on De Ligt because he would eventually get fat and slow (like 99.9% of all men on Earth). Regardless, Marcel Bout tried to project into the future last summer when looking at the then 18-year-old phenom and decided a rigorous training schedule, a great medical and physiological staff, and the ability to hire someone to cook and monitor all his meals still would not deter De Ligt from eventually getting his grub on.

Manchester United missed out on the chance to sign Matthijs De Ligt – because they were told he would become too fat. Ajax skipper De Ligt has emerged as one of the most sought-after defenders in Europe, with the center-back set to spark a £75million scramble for his signature this summer. United, who are desperate to sign a central defender this summer, could have signed De Ligt for less than that figure last season – but decided against it because of concerns over his weight.

Dutch scout Marcel Bout, who was brought in by Louis van Gaal and remained in his role despite the former United manager’s sacking, scouted De Ligt extensively and recommended him to the club. But Bout told United that De Ligt’s father Frank was significantly overweight and predicted the 19-year-old Holland international would go the same way as he got older and lose his pace and power.

In that year, all De Ligt did was show that he was among the brightest young defenders in the world.

ICYMI: The next podcast is up! (Bavarian Football Works)

Our latest podcast is up, so give it a listen and feel free to ridicule me in the comments!

Oh, okay...agent approves James-for-Dybala deal, but fails to includes the teams (Calciomercato)

A report out of Italy is indicating that the agent for James Rodriguez, Jorge Mendes, has approved a deal between Bayern and Juventus to trade James Rodriguez for Paulo Dybala in the summer. This would require Bayern to buy James and then flip him to Juventus for the Argentina international. So...this is almost assuredly NOT going to happen:

Paulo Dybala is not unsellable for Juventus. In recent weeks, a rumor has emerged about a possible exchange with Bayern Munich. As reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, this is an operation that pleases the agent of the Colombian, Jorge Mendes, now central to the Juventus market movement.

Typically a deal would require both teams to agree, which seems to be the missing element here.

More James! Atletico Madrid wants in (@iMiaSanMia)

Citing a report by El Chiringuito TV, @iMiaSanMia dropped this gem regarding James:

This, too, would likely require to have to buy James to flip him to Los Rojiblancos — which, again, is unlikely to happen because Bayern wants to keep its relationship with Real Madrid intact. Given the fact that Los Blancos would be highly unlikely to sell James to Atletico Madrid, Bayern would have to. Feel free to vent all of your vitriol about this “policy” in the comments.

Madrid’s initial offer for Pogba is shot down (Transfer Market Web)

Earlier this week, we had a piece referencing how Real Madrid might plan to use the revenue generated from a sale of James Rodriguez to buy Manchester United’s Paul Pogba. Per a report, Los Blancos might have to raise the price on James to up its offer on Pogba to the Red Devils.

According to latest UK news, Manchester United have just turned down Real Madrid on an overall 150 million euros bid (125€m + 25€m as bonuses), aimed to get French international midfielder Paul Pogba (26). Red Devils controversial star is still tracked by Juventus and PSG as well.

City looks primed to land Rodri (Sport Witness)

Rumored Bayern target Rodri looks like he might be headed to Manchester City.

Earlier today we covered claims from Spain’s Cadena SER that several clubs remain interested in Atletico’s Rodri and that ‘he will leave’ in the next window. Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona were named as those clubs.

Given Barca have already signed Frenkie de Jong, and are thought to be close to deals for Matthijs de Ligt and Antoine Griezmann, it would be a stretch to think they could also afford Rodri this summer. Over in Germany, there’s not been a big surge of reporting on Bayern interest, or any at all recently, so it’s Manchester City which looks the likeliest right now.

United trolling goes official (@ESPNAusNZ)

Manchester United’s troll job of Bayern Munich has gone official.