Daily Schmankerl: Timo Werner and Bayern Munich seem pretty serious about each other; news on Ante Rebic, James Rodriguez, and Julian Brandt; plus MORE!

Werner and Bayern seem locked in on each other (Sport1)

RB Leipzig striker Timo Werner added another goal, plus two assists to his tally this season during Die Roten Bullen’s 3-3 draw with Mainz 05 on Friday. The 23-year-old star is on a good run of performances with Leipzig, but seems locked in on where he wants to spend the next stage of his career: Bayern Munich.

Werner’s contract runs until 2020 and RB has always stressed that it does not want to let the striker go free. Consequently, the Leipzigers would have to sell their striker in the summer. FC Bayern, too, has recently been repeatedly treated as interested in Werner. According to SPORT1 information, Werner’s only option in the Bundesliga is to change to the record champion.

The Liverpool Echo captured a story by kicker that states that Bayern will hold off negotiations with Werner until after the season, seemingly to avoid any distractions to the squad as it heads down the home stretch.

According to German news outlet kicker, Bayern have delayed on opening negotiations with RB Leipzig over the transfer of Werner until the end of the season, and not any earlier.

While that may seem curious, the last thing Bayern needs is a loss of focus over the final three games against Hannover 96, RB Leipzig, and Eintracht Frankfurt. Liverpool, of course, is the next closest competitor to Bayern to procure Werner as Jurgen Klopp is said to be a “big fan” of the Germany international.

On the season, Werner has 19 goals and 11 assists in 35 games across all competitions.

Bayern vs. Hannover: A prediction (Bavarian Football Works)

On paper, this game looks like it should be a shellacking. As we found out last week against Nurnberg, however, nothing is a given. That experience, though, should give Bayern the motivation and focus required to dispatch a completely over-matched Hannover side.

We could (*possibly*) see a more offensive lineup against Hannover as Leon Goretzka could jump in for Javi Martinez, which should supply a boost to the Bayern offense. That will put more defensive pressure on Thiago Alcantara, but that is nothing that the slick Spaniard can’t handle.

The front four was a bit disjointed with its effort last week and lacked its normal precision, but we should see Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Muller, Kingsley Coman, and Serge Gnabry back to their own menacing selves this week. With the proper intensity, it is hard to see a way that Hannover slows Bayern down even if it parks an aircraft carrier on the field.

If all goes to plan, hopefully we get to see both Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery take the pitch once again as Bayern pushes forward to its final two games against RB Leipzig and Eintracht Frankfurt with a victory in hand.

Prediction: Bayern Munich 5, Hannover 96 0 (because this predicted score worked out so well last week)

ICYMI: Jovic likely headed to Los Blancos (Bavarian Football Works)

This was certainly not a vintage Friday afternoon “bad” news dump for Real Madrid. It looks like Eintracht Frankfurt star Luka Jovic is headed to La Liga. FC Barcelona, Bayern, and Paris Saint-Germain were considered to be potential destinations for the 21-year-old striker.

Is Rebic the key to a future sans Hudson-Odoi for Bayern? (We Ain’t Got No History)

Our sister site, the Chelsea-based We Ain’t Got No History, thinks (hopes!?) that Bayern will follow-up on our story from Thursday and pursue Eintracht Frankfurt’s Ante Rebic rather than wait around for Callum Hudson-Odoi to heal from his Achilles injury.

Whereas Bayern Munich had every intention of pursuing (Callum Hudson-Odoi)’s signature in the summer transfer window after a mini-transfer-saga in the winter, that might no longer be the case as a result.

Bayern’s head honchos are apparently less convinced, and even if they were to agree to Rebic, that might not exclude the possibility of a new for Hudson-Odoi as well, especially after he is healthy enough to get back on the pitch. Bayern had tempted the youngster with a starring role, and that might be hard to pass up, even if Rebic does add some extra competition.

So, the recipe for Chelsea to lock down Hudson-Odoi, whose contract is still set to expire in a year, remains the same. We must offer him a proper path to stardom, regardless of who the head coach may or may not be. We must break the wheel.

Understandably, Chelsea fans should totally hope Bayern moves on from Hudson-Odoi, but I don’t think this comes down to Rebic. If Hudson-Odoi really wants to move to Germany, he’ll take the opportunity when healthy. If not, then Chelsea fans will be able breathe a little easier. My guess is that when Hudson-Odoi is recovered he’ll elect to spend his career in England, where he can star for both club and country.

James on the — still expensive — clearance rack (@swearimnotpaul)

Goal’s Ronan Murphy corroborated reports that neither Bayern Munich nor Real Madrid want James Rodriguez and believes the midfielder could be available for as little as €50m. You listening Arsenal, Juventus, and Manchester United?

Dortmund still eyeing Brandt? (Transfer Market Web)

Could Borussia Dortmund still have Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt on its radar?

According to sportal.de, Borussia Dortmund management are planning a cash bid on German international attacking midfielder Julian Brandt (23). Bayer Leverkusen star is also tracked by Bayern Munich, Juventus, and Liverpool.