Daily Schmankerl: Kai Havertz and Leroy Sané updates; Bayern Munich seriously considering Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech; Napoli still chasing James Rodriguez; Updates on Juventus’ Paulo Dybala and Tottenham Hotspur’s Christian Eriksen, plus MORE!

Voller talks on future of Havertz (Münchner Merkur)

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Rudi Völler seems to be coming to grips with the fact that Kai Havertz is going to be leaving the club soon enough. In an interview with Sport Bild (as captured by the Münchner Merkur), Völler spoke frankly about the future of Havertz. When asked about the possibility of the 20-year-old Germany international leaving next summer, Völler started to sound like a move is inevitable:

Now he is here and will be playing a strong season again. If he leaves at some point, he will go to the club he wants to play for. We have a very good relationship with him and his family. It’s clear: Kai decides when and where he goes. Everything else can be clarified.

When pressed about where Havertz might go, Völler indicted that “only a few clubs” would be capable of paying the reported nine-figure transfer fee:

That’s why I want to put it this way: I’m always happy when I see an artist like Kai Havertz playing. Preferably with us. If one day this should no longer be the case, there will still be Sky and DAZN. There you can follow all European top leagues.

The implication, of course, is that Bayern Munich is not the only European giant capable of procuring Havertz and also that Leverkusen would have no problem working with teams outside of Germany on a sale of Havertz.

Sané allegedly tells teammates he’s leaving (The Irish Sun)

Since we are weary stories on Manchester City’s Leroy Sané, let’s keep this brief:

Leroy Sané has reportedly told his Manchester City teammates he wants to join Bayern Munich. The German international has been linked with a move to the giants all summer.

Ziyech gaining momentum with Bayern (@mano_bonke)

TZ reporter Manuel Bonke tweeted out that Ajax’s Hakim Ziyech is becoming a more popular target for the Bavarians:

The topic of Hakim Ziyech boiled up again @FCBayern: sporting director @Brazzo has indeed had contact with Ziyech’s side several weeks ago. At that time, however, it was more about getting to know each other for the first time, rather than concrete transfer planning. #FCBayern#FCBTransfersommer

Spurs go all in on Dybala (Sky Sports)

With Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain already linked to Paulo Dybala this week, it appears that Juventus might be ready to make a deal with Tottenham Hotspur:

Tottenham have agreed a fee with Juventus for Paulo Dybala worth £64.4m, according to Sky in Italy. Personal terms are yet to be agreed between Spurs and Dybala’s camp.It is understood Dybala’s image rights will be an obstacle in negotiations for the 25-year-old forward.

If Dybala is heading to Tottenham, what happens to Christian Eriksen? Well...

Eriksen set on Madrid (Sky Sports)

The interesting part of a Spurs move for Dybala now becomes a discussion around the future of Eriksen. A transfer of Dybala would certainly pave the way for Eriksen to leave for Real Madrid, Manchester United, Atlético Madrid, or any other team that he has been linked to.

Now, however, Eriksen’s options might be more limited as United is dropping out of the race for the Denmark international:

Manchester United have ended their interest in signing Christian Eriksen from Tottenham as they believe he has his heart set on a move to Real Madrid, Sky Sports News understands. United were considering a late move for the 27-year-old before Thursday’s transfer deadline.

ICYMI: Bavarian Podcast Works Bundesliga previews (Bavarian Football Works)

If you have missed any episodes of our Bundesliga preview series, you can quickly catch up at the story stream below. Today’s team is Union Berlin:

James is probably ready for all of this to end (Transfer Market Web)

Carlo Ancelotti and Napoli just can’t quit James Rodriguez. Atlético Madrid and Olympique de Marseille are also allegedly still hoping to land the Colombia international.

After having been turned down by Real Madrid a bunch of times, Carlo Ancelotti, during his latest press conference, jokingly but defiantly, said he “threatened” club owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, on transfer market, and Napoli is planning to go again for Colombian international attacking midfielder/winger James Rodriguez (28). While Atlético Madrid are not leaving former Bayern Munich, Porto and AS Monaco player out, and Olympique Marseille popped up in the pursuers list. Merengues request on James is still set at 42 million euros cash.

Italian journalist Gianluca DiMarzio is reporting that James was also not called for Real Madrid’s friendly against RB Salzburg, which means a move could be forthcoming:

James Rodriguez seems getting further and further away from Real Madrid. The Colombian midfielder has in fact not been selected for the friendly Zidane’s team will play on Wednesday in Austria against Red Bull Salzburg. Another signal from the French coach stating the former Bayern Munich player is getting away from Madrid. As it’s been reported many times, the negotiations with Napoli had been in advanced stages before getting brutally stopped. The player is also courted by Atlético. Besides James, Gareth Bale and Mariano Diaz are also out of the list for the next friendly.

Rooney’s moved explained (Sky Sports)

If anyone is wondering why D.C. United star Wayne Rooney is making the move to play for Derby County, the 33-year-old star simply just wanted to go home:

The pressures of living in America, away from friends and loved ones, have been the driving force behind Wayne Rooney and his family’s return to the UK. Wife Coleen has struggled to settle into life in the US capital and last month Rooney was given what DC United manager Ben Olsen called “a mental and physical break” from the MLS campaign, adding there were “signs of wear and tear” as the 33-year-old entered his second year at Audi Field.

During his break back at their Cheshire home, Sky Sports News understands Wayne and Coleen agreed that life for them and their four young children would be better back in the UK. Keen to find a quick solution to an unexpected problem, Rooney’s agent Paul Stretford set about exploring new challenges back in England, leading to the extraordinary developments in Derby. On the field, Rooney has been worth every penny of his two-and-a-half-year, £10.7m deal, lifting DC United from the bottom of their league to the play-offs and scoring 23 goals in 42 games.

Rooney will make the move in January after the MLS season is complete. Good luck to the former Manchester United and Everton star.

Lewy as the The Flash? (@FCBayernUS)

This is a pretty cool photo:

Zaha bid rejected (Sky Sports)

Everton bid €76 million on Wilfried Zaha, but saw Crystal Palace reject it soundly. Palace, it seems, it looking for north of €86 million for the 26-year-old.

So, a £70m bid, plus two players, has been rejected from Everton by Crystal Palace for Wilfried Zaha.

Bayern Munich, of course, was briefly linked to Zaha.