Report: Bayern waiting on Neymar/Barcelona deal to decide on Philippe Coutinho

Bayern Munich is still trying to get Leroy Sané from Manchester City for a discount before the transfer window closes on September 2nd, but they’ve also been monitoring Barcelona’s Philippe Coutinho for a potential loan deal.

Per a new report from Georg Holzner in kicker’s print edition, Bayern is waiting to see what happens with Neymar’s prospective move back to Barcelona from Paris Saint-Germain before they decide whether they should make a move for Coutinho.

Bayern has just under three weeks before the window closes to see what happens with Neymar. The Catalans have recently offered Coutinho and €100m for Neymar, which PSG has rejected. PSG reportedly wants at least two more players in addition to Coutinho. Both Arturo Vidal and Nelson Semedo have been mentioned, but an official offer with all three of those players has yet to occur.

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The report also states that kicker has learned that the Brazilian midfielder been in talks exclusively with Bayern and PSG. Per his family, if the Neymar deal falls through, Coutinho could imagine a move to the Bundesliga at Bayern, and there might be a good chance of that happening if negotiations between PSG and Barcelona fall through.

The domino effect that would ensue if Barcelona winds up bringing Neymar back is essentially the only thing that would induce Bayern to make a serious offer for Coutinho, even if it is only on a short-term loan, like they’ve done with Ivan Perisic from Inter Milan.

In addition, Bayern is seriously interested in bringing Mario Mandžukić back from Juventus and Niko Kovac supposedly wants him “badly.” The Croatian would be available for around €10 million and could prove to be a viable option for the right price.

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Kovac also stated in his pre-Hertha Berlin press conference that Bayern still wants to pursue a “modern number 6” as well as a “big signing” in addition to Mandžukić. Ideally, the “big signing” would still be Sané from Manchester City, if Bayern can negotiate the transfer fee down. Mandžukić meanwhile could play both as a backup for Robert Lewandowski as a natural number 9 striker or even as a wide attacking player when/if needed. Still, though, neither Mandžukić, Coutniho, nor Sane fit the profile of a “modern number 6,” so that area might not be addressed in the remainder.

A breakdown of feasible scenarios

• Bayern bring in Mandžukić from Juventus and Sané on a reduced rate from ManCity before September 2nd.
• Neymar to PSG falls through and Bayern acquires Coutinho on a short-term loan and also bring in Mandžukić.
• Bayern bring in Mandžukić and agree on a fee for a winter transfer of Sané and try to sign a “modern number 6” before the window closes.
• Bayern fail to sign Mandžukić (for whatever reason), but they get a reduced fee for Sane and acquire Coutinho on a short-term loan because the Neymar/Barcleona deal falls through prior to September 2nd.