Daily Schmankerl: A prediction for Germany vs. Netherlands; Liverpool back in on Timo Werner?; Transfer fallout for Neymar, Ousmane Dembele, Jerome Boateng, and Philippe Coutinho; plus MORE!

Germany vs. The Netherlands: A prediction (Bavarian Football Works)

Back in March, Germany ousted the Netherlands 3-2 when Nico Schulz scored in the 90th minute. Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry gave Germany an early 2-0 lead, but the Dutch came storming back behind goals from Matthijs de Ligt and Memphis Depay.

Surely, Germany coach Joachim Löw is going to look at putting the Netherlands away without a collapse in this one. Löw is expected to roll out a front-line that could include Marco Reus, Timo Werner, and Gnabry. The forwards will be supported by a midfield of Toni Kroos and Joshua Kimmich. What type of formation Löw uses is a up for debate. Will he opt for a 3-4-3, a 3-5-2, or a 4-3-3?

Most are expecting wing-backs/outside-backs like Schulz and Lukas Klostermann, and center-back Niklas Süle, and goalkeeper Manuel Neuer to be part of the XI in one way or another, which leaves two spots open. Löw has some very versatile options to weave into the lineup, so it will be interesting to see who gets the call.

Regardless of who else starts the game, this should be a contest that Germany can win. And while this is not necessarily a “must win” game by any means, they sort of all are given how fragile the German squad has been since late 2017.

Expect the Die Mannschaft offense to try and apply pressure from the wide areas, which will hopefully cause Dutch center-backs Virgil van Dijk and De Ligt to scramble along the back-line. If Germany is not successful with that, it could be a difficult day at Volksparkstadion in Hamburg.

Prediction: Germany 2, Netherlands 1

Renewed interest in Werner (The Liverpool Offside)

Liverpool might be back in on RB Leipzig striker and alleged Bayern Munich target Timo Werner:

Timo Werner has been linked with Liverpool for a couple of seasons now, and while for a time those Liverpool links moved to the back burner when it looked as though the 23-year-old was set to move to Bayern Munich, that appears to have fallen through.

When it did, the RB Leipzig striker signed a new deal at his current club—but it was a new deal that included an oddly low €30M release clause, and many believe it is a deal agreed between player and club that accepts his departure next summer as inevitable.

Instead of losing him for nothing in 2020, Leipzig get €30M while Werner now earns a little more. And with Bayern supposedly no longer in the running, we come back around again to Liverpool. At least according to the rumor mongers at Football Insider.

How about this TLO, we will trade you Tom Adams and his Steven Gerrard jersey if you guys just keep on moving right by Werner. Deal?

Pep rejected Coutinho (The Mirror)

Manchester City boss had the opportunity to bring in Philippe Coutinho from FC Barcelona, but ultimately rejected the move, which led the 27-year-old to Bayern:

When Leroy Sane picked up his potentially season-ending injury for Manchester City, it handed a huge blow to manager Pep Guardiola. The 23-year-old forward damaged his anterior cruciate ligament during City’s Community Shield win over Liverpool last month, with the German facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines. He has since undergone surgery and has started his long road to recovery, but the initial feeling is that he may not play for the reigning Premier League champions this season.

And Spanish daily Marca has claimed that Guardiola was given the option to bring in Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona but turned down the opportunity. It is suggested that the former Barca boss wasn’t keen on signing the playmaker, who has since joined German giants Bayern Munich on loan.

Sarri rejected Boateng (Calciomercato)

Former Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri had a chance to bring Jerome Boateng to Juventus, but didn’t feel like Boateng was in shape and also didn’t feel like investing any time in teaching Boateng the system:

Despite being linked with a move this summer, German defender Jerome Boateng ended up remaining at Bayern Munich. The central defender was linked to a move to Juventus, but as reported by Tuttosport via Calciomercato.com, Maurizio Sarri rejected the arrival of the German, preferring to work with Italian defender Daniele Rugani. The Reason? The 31-year-old player trained separately in Bavaria this summer, not being physically ready for the move and Sarri wasn’t keen to have to teach his system to Boateng, especially with Inter and Napoli close on Juventus’ tail in the race for the scudetto this season.

If I could insert the “shrug” emoji here I would.

Dembelé rejected PSG (Transfer Market Web)

FC Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembelé was one of the primary reasons that Barca could not procure Neymar. The 22-year-old would not move to Paris, which officially killed the deal. About the only place Dembelé has moved is into Ernesto Valverde’s dog house:

According to latest French news, 22-year old international winger Ousmane Dembelé turned PSG down right before the buzzer, making Neymar impossible to sign for Barcelona FC. Former Dortmund and Rennes powerhouse joined Blaugrana in summer 2017, and is now an out-of-grace player in the eyes of Spanish giants boss, Ernesto Valverde.

Thiago is a bad dude on the pitch (@ESPNFC)

You wanted more ball mastery from Thiago Alcantara, you got it:

Leipzig wants to extend Klostermann (kicker)

RB Leipzig is looking to extend the contract of outside-back Lukas Klostermann:

Bundesliga club Leipzig wants to continue to bind Lukas Klostermann to itself and has “already started talks with him”, says RB sports director Markus Krösche per “n-tv”. The contract of the 23-year-old defender runs until 2021, but the plan is to extend the deal before the European Championship 2020.

Neuer a Sith lord? (@FCBayernUS)

I don’t want to make any accusations, but Manuel Neuer is an ominous looking robe with a hood away from trying to take down the rebellion in this pic.

Minor training updates (Bild)

Per Bild, Thomas Müller, Javi Martinez, and Sven Ulreich are all training on their own this week, which why they have not been featured with Fiete Arp and Michaël Cuisance at training sessions.