Daily Schmankerl: PSG rejects Real Madrid and FC Barcelona bids for Neymar; AS Roma scoping Timo Werner; Mario Mandzukic prefers Bayern Munich over Borussia Dortmund; Juventus plotting to get Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen for free; and MORE!

Mandzukic would prefer a move to Bayern over Dortmund (Calciomercato)

When it comes to a return to the Bundesliga, Juventus star Mario Mandzukic would rather join Bayern Munich than Borussia Dortmund:

According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, these are Mario Mandzukic’s next moves. The center-forward is the greatest suspect among the Juventus attackers to leave the Old Lady. What is the situation? At the moment, on the Croatian’s side, there is Borussia Dortmund, who is not going to give up a shot (at Mandzukic) these days, despite the strong competition of Bayern Munich. Well, the return to Bavaria would be on the mind of Mario, who does not want to lower standards of wages and competitiveness. In short, a team within Juve’s reach. And then there’s Kovac, his compatriot and friend: Juve continues to ask for a sum just over €10 million.

Admittedly, the BVB piece of this came out of nowhere as it was over a month ago when Dortmund was last linked to Mandzukic. Anyway, the 33-year-old reportedly just turned down Sevilla this week, but getting Mandzukic for just over €10 million could be intriguing for Bayern. It might not necessarily be that inexpensive, however.

La Gazzetta Dello Sport followed up the report above with another from one of its reporters, Nicolo Schira. Schira indicated that Bayern was again going to employ Giovanni Banchini to work on the deal. Branchini, of course, just worked on the loan of Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan to Bayern, while also having worked on other profile moves for the Bavarians such as Luca Toni, Pep Guardiola, and Lucas Hernandez.

Giovanni Branchini tries an encore: after orchestrating the passage of Ivan #Perisic to the #BayernMunich, he is now working on Mario’s #Mandzukic return to Bavaria. The Germans are ready to take on his salary (two years of 5 million net): they seek an agreement with the #Juventus who wants 15mln

Roma has its eyes on Werner (La Gazzetta Dello Sport)

AS Roma could swoop in to make a play for RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner. Would the 23-year-old be receptive to a move to Italy or will be play the long-game in hopes of moving to Bayern Munich this summer or in 2020? The talented Germany international certainly does not have a lack of suitors as Valencia, Liverpool, Juventus, and Paris Saint-Germain have all been linked to Werner over the past few months:

Waiting to understand if the domino effect will really start or not, Roma is studying different solutions for center-forward. Regardless of (Edin) Dzeko’s future, there is a willingness to send (Patrik) Schick elsewhere in these last three weeks of the market. From Timo Werner to Michy Batshuayi, although the former would be seen more as a change of Dzeko and the latter as a vice-Schick, so to speak.

In short, close to mid-August Roma continue to have continuous contacts on the front of the center forward. Timo Werner is due to expire with Leipzig next June, when he could go free to Bayern Munich. From Germany, however, there are rumors that Roma are showing a strong interest at this very moment, with the Giallorossi ready to enter now and Leipzig, of course, would be happy to give up the player now rather than lose him in ten months without receiving a euro.

Juve looking to get Eriksen for free (AS)

Tottenham Hotspur star Christian Eriksen has one year left on his deal in England and that suits Juventus just fine. The Old Lady is apparently willing to wait it out and get the 27-year-old on a free transfer, much like how it brought Emre Can, Aaron Ramsey, and Adrien Rabiot:

Now, the Old Lady is hoping to repeat the trick to land Tottenham midfielder Christian Eriksen on a free next summer. After a summer of half-hearted pursuit by Real Madrid, Eriksen has declined to sign a new contract at Spurs despite the offer a double-your-money deal on the table and it seems inevitable that the Denmark international will not remain in London beyond the end of the current season and barring any last-minute attempts to lure him away before the European transfer windows close — something that Mauricio Pochettino has alluded to — he will be free to talk to non-Premier Leagues in January.

That is where Juve plan to come in. Eriksen’s deal at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium runs out next summer and he can agree a pre-contract with European sides in the New Year. Manchester United had been keeping an eye on developments with Madrid and Juve circling around Paul Pogba — although the latter was probably a smokescreen designed by his agent Mino Raiola to force Madrid’s hand — but cannot now add players to their squad, leading Juve to believe they can pull of another coup by acquiring the services of a player worth around €100m this summer for nothing in a year’s time.

Nübel in no rush to extend deal (kicker)

Schalke 04 goalkeeper Alexander Nübel is reportedly in no rush to hammer out a deal with Die Königsblauen:

Schalke 04 would like to extend with keeper Alexander Nübel (contract until 2020), but the 22-year-old still needs time to think about whether he will accept the offer from the club. In the big kicker interview (Thursday’s edition), the goalkeeper says he has “no schedule” in this respect and is grateful that the club is patient in a “decision of great importance.”

Unlike Daniel La Russa, Wagner was penalized for this high kick (@swearimnotpaul)

Sandro Wagner pretty much went full “Thomas Muller against Ajax” with this, but only got a yellow card.

PSG waves off bids from Los Blancos and Barca (BBC.com)

Check out the bids that FC Barcelona and Real Madrid made on Paris Saint-Germain star and Brazil international Neymar:

Barcelona and Real Madrid have made unsuccessful offers for Paris St-Germain forward Neymar, says BBC Radio 5 Live’s Guillem Balague. Neymar’s former club Barcelona are believed to have offered 100m euros (£92.4m) plus Philippe Coutinho. Ivan Rakitic was also discussed with the French club as part of the deal for the 27-year-old Brazil international.

Real have put forward a deal that includes money as well as Gareth Bale and James Rodriguez. PSG asked for Vinicius Junior but Real did not put his name in the frame.

Neither bid has been accepted, but it is thought PSG would prefer to sell to Real.

Bayern scoping Italian youngster? (Transfer Market Web)

Bayern Munich might have its eyes on A.C. Chievo Verona midfielder Emanuel Vignato:

Turning 19 on August 24th, Italian U-19 international attacking midfielder Emanuel Vignato, according to Sky Sport Italia, is being approached by Lazio. Chievo Verona 2000-born rising star is tracked by a bunch more clubs, including Bayern Munich, Inter Milan, and Juventus. Aquilotti are also interested in his younger brother, 2004-born Samuele Vignato.

Need to see some highlights of Vignato, well here you go:

Zaniolo re-ups with Roma (kicker)

AS Roma’s Nicolo Zaniolo was linked to Bayern Munich just a few months ago, but the youngster has decided to say with the Giallorossi:

AS Roma has extended the contract with midfielder Nicolo Zaniolo until 2024. “That was what I wanted,” said the 20-year-old, who made his breakthrough last season and aroused desires. His salary is expected to rise from 700,000 euros to 2.5 million euros per season. The Italian international came from Inter Milan last summer.

Waldschmidt to leave the Bundesliga? (Goal)

Rumors are swirling that Benfica is going to make a move for SC Freiburg scorer and Germany U-21 international Luca Waldschmidt. Freiburg sports director Klemens Hartenbach denied have any knowledge of interest from the Portuguese club:

There are no requests, so we do not deal with the topic.

Waldschmidt is under contract with Freiburg through 2022, but there were reports originating from Portugal that indicate a move might be forthcoming:

The Portuguese newspaper Record had reported on Tuesday from a “verbal agreement” between the top scorer of the U21 European Championship and the 37-time champions from Portugal. According to the report, both clubs will only play poker for the amount of the transfer. While Benfica wants to pay twelve million euros, the Breisgauer’s threshold should be 20 million euros.

Finnbogason extends deal with Die Fuggerstädter (@FCA_World)

FC Augsburg’s Alfred Finnbogason has extended his contract with the club through 2022. When healthy — which seems like almost never — Finnbogason is one of the more exciting players to watch in the Bundesliga.