Daily Schmankerl: Lionel Messi at Bayern Munich...or Schalke 04?; A prediction for Germany vs. Northern Ireland; Liverpool couldn’t afford Philippe Coutinho; Real Madrid plotting move for PSG’s Kylian Mbappé; and MORE!

Messi to move? Barca doesn’t seem worried (tz)

FC Barcelona mega-star Lionel Messi’s contract runs through 2021, but some (likely crazy people) think he might opt for a new challenge rather than finishing his career in Catalonia. German publication tz tried to theorize reasons why Messi would consider Bayern Munich as an option should the 32-year-old decide to make a move. Without further adieu, these are the reasons Messi might consider Bayern Munich per tz:

• Joshua Kimmich: Messi reportedly wanted Kimmich to join Barcelona, so why wouldn’t Messi just uproot himself and his family to go play with Kimmich in Germany?
• Former teammates: Messi’s former teammates Philippe Coutinho and Thiago Alcantara are in Munich. Of course, this completely ignores the fact that Coutinho is likely only in Munich for one year.

(Keep your laughter down!)

So yeah, I would not count on a move to Bayern Munich for Messi. What about Schalke 04, though?

(Okay, okay...get up off the floor!)

A group of fans started a grassroots effort demanding that the club brings in Messi on a free transfer in 2021. This actually makes sense in so many ways, but none that include anything about actual soccer or Messi or Barcelona...but I digress.

Barca seems confident, however, that Messi will turn away from a move to power club like Bayern Munich or to MLS, where he could probably play into his forties. Barca president Josep Maria Bartomeu does not seem concerned:

Leo Messi has a contract until 2020/21, but the player may leave Barca before the end of his final season. We are very relaxed.

There are also rumors that Barca would consider offering Messi some sort of lifetime contract, but the details are sketchy at best as to what exactly that would entail.

Germany vs. Northern Ireland: A prediction (Bavarian Football Works)

I took a run at predicting Joachim Löw’s potential lineup for Germany’s tilt later today against Northern Ireland and honestly I have no clue how close that prognostication will be. On paper, this is a game that Germany should win...and win handily. Between Löw’s tactics, under-performing players, injuries and illnesses, and constant formation changes, it is tough to guess how in sync Germany will be today.

Still, there is a big gap in talent level between these two teams. It would be nice to think that Löw is feeling the heat of how poorly the team has looked at various times over the past 16 months, but I kind of think that he’s not. Regardless of that, though, the players need to step up and win in spite of anything Löw is doing rather than continue to help the team descend into disarray.

I don’t know why I am predicting a blowout with a clean sheet. I literally am just going on a hunch that Die Mannschaft will self-correct on the pitch and not look like a complete mess.

Prediction: Germany 4, Northern Ireland 0

Klopp said he couldn’t afford Coutinho (The Mirror)

The Mirror captured a video interview by Bild with Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp and the animated coach said that his club could not afford to bring Philippe Coutinho back to England:

World class player, really good transfer for Bayern and the Bundesliga. I thought it’s a good fit for both when I first heard about it. It may sound strange, but we didn’t have enough money to get him. We’d already spent all the money we got for him. I have already told him in person that he and Bayern will be a good fit.

Moving on from Neymar? Los Blancos plotting move for Mbappé (Sport1)

Real Madrid might have spent most of the summer unsuccessfully trying to bring in Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar, but next July there might be another PSG target on the radar of Los Blancos. Kylian Mbappé could be Real Madrid’s primary focus for 2020:

Real Madrid is apparently planning a new run on Kylian Mbappé in the summer. As reported by the Spanish newspaper Sport, President Florentino Perez is said to have informed the officials of Paris Saint-Germain of their interest in the World Cup.

The striker should be the wishful player of compatriot and real coach Zinédine Zidane. However, a transfer of the 20-year-old should not be cheap: Mbappé has a contract with PSG until 2022 and was the Parisians in 2018 already worth 135 million euros.

Bayern small group training (@Sky_Torben)

Torben Hoffmann captured some video of a small group training session today at Säbener Strasse. The players on the pitch included Thomas Müller, Jerome Boateng, Javi Martinez, Michaël Cuisance, Fiete Arp, Lars Lukas Mai, Sven Ulreich, and Ron-Thorben Hoffmann.

Small group @FCBayern under the guidance of coach #Kovac at the Säbener! @JB17Official @esmuellert_ @Javi8martinez @MichaelCUISANCE #Arp #Mai #Hoffmann #Ulreich @SkySportDE @SkySportNewsHD

Los Blancos still tracking Van de Beek (Transfer Market Web)

Ajax attacker Donny van de Beek was rumored to be on Bayern Munich’s radar at one point, but Real Madrid has been pursuing the 22-year-old heavily. A move seems imminent either during the winter transfer window or next summer:

According to latest rumors reported by AS, Real Madrid management, after having been turned down once by Ajax, are going again for Dutch international attacking midfielder Donny Van De Beek (22). Merengues are planning a winter move on the 1997-born, tracked by Borussia Dortmund and PSG as well.

ICYMI: UCL previews (Bavarian Football Works)

In the event you missed it, our preview for Group A is up!

Schalke’s Kenny idolized Lahm (HITC)

Schalke 04’s Jonjoe Kenny is on loan from Everton, but his stint with Die Königsblauen is not the only connection that Kenny has with German football. The 22-year-old grew up idolizing Bayern Munich great Phillip Lahm:

He was an all-rounder, could play left, right, in the middle. For me, he was always outstanding and the best right-back.

In what has been an up-and-down start to the season for Schalke 04, Kenny has been a bright spot.

Spurs target Dybala (Transfer Market Web)

Juventus attacking midfielder Paulo Dybala has been linked to half-a-dozen teams or so over the past year with Bayern Munich being one of them. Now, however, Tottenham Hotspur appears to be the front runner:

Turned down last-minute by Juventus, Tottenham management are planning a new move on Argentinian international forward Paulo Dybala (25). Tracked by PSG as well, La Joya, unless getting back from his out-of-grace status, might be traded on an about 75 million euros fee, which Spurs might dispose of if signing Christian Eriksen away.