Daily Schmankerl: Alphonso Davies player of the month, kicker critiques Coman and Gnabry, Werner for sale?

Time to roast some Nürnbergers! Bayern plays at 9:30 ET

The boys are back and the first friendly of the new year takes place against 1. FC Nürnberg.

Alphonso Davies Bayern’s December Player of the Month (FCBayern.com)

In a season of firsts for Bayern Munich’s young Canadian star, Alphonso Davies has also won recognition as the club’s player of the month for the first time in his career. Davies did not miss a minute in all 13 of Bayern’s matches since he leaped into the starting lineup in late October. Davies logged four assists during that time. He won the fans’ vote with 41%, ahead of both Philippe Coutinho (36%) and Robert Lewandowski (16%).

Congrats, Phonzie!

Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry downgraded in kicker ratings (kicker)

Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry remain among the best wingers in the Bundesliga, but German soccer magazine kicker awarded top honors to Borussia Dortmund’s dynamic Jadon Sancho (12 goals, 13 assists). In second place behind him is Eintracht Frankfurt’s Filip Kostic (6 goals, 9 assists).

Photo by CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP via Getty Images

About Gnabry, kicker writes:

His massive potential is undisputed. Whoever has merely his international games against second-rate competition or the four-goal gala against Tottenham in mind, may be surprised that kicker denies him a rating in the international class. But for this honor Gnabry disappears too often and commits too much imprecise and sloppy play. This is epitomized by his black day in [Bayern’s] 1-2 loss to Leverkusen.

As for Coman, they write:

First he lost his form, then — as so often in his young career — bad injury luck struck. He showed his outstanding talent somewhat too rarely; only four goals is too little for a Bayern winger; the crosses also must finally be more precise. Health and consistency are his central issues.

Ivan Perisic was also mentioned further down:

Four goals and four assists across competitions is decent; his playing deficits and mental lack of pace, however, prevent him from being included in the ranking.

Robert Lewandowski at work on his comeback (FCBayernTV)

Just Hansi Flick waiting for Thiago and Coutinho to stop goofing off

Werner sale in the cards? Leipzig boss says nothing can’t be sold (AZ)

RB Leipzig boss Oliver Mintzlaff declined to rule out a sale of Timo Werner, despite the fact that the striker extended his contract in August after he was spurned by Bayern. Werner has so far scored 33 goals across competitions.

Mintzlaff said,

Nothing can’t be sold in soccer. We have to be that honest, too, can’t pretend otherwise before the fans. If [Werner] continues to perform and scores 30 goals or more, then only FC Bayern will take interest in such a world-class striker.

Reus compares Haaland to Lewandowski (Sport1)

Speaking of strikers, BVB’s Marco Reus gave a flattering description of his new teammate Erling Haaland, who joined Dortmund from RB Salzburg in the winter window after they were knocked out of the Champions League. Reus compared Haaland to Lewandowski:

I think we have not had such a player since Lewy. He gives us the ability to be more flexible, to react to different situations in game. That gives us a good feeling.

Reus conceded, however, that Haaland still has to integrate into the team. He has been dealing with a minor knee issue and completed his first training session just this past Wednesday. Reus said,

Now he has to get really fit, really arrive. That will take time. We’re giving it to him.

Wolfsburg remembers Junior Malanda

Five years ago yesterday, Wolfsburg’s Belgian talent Junior Malanda was killed in a car crash in northern Germany. Featuring on all of Belgium’s national teams up to the U21 level, he looked like another up-and-coming member of their Golden Generation. He was a close friend of teammates Kevin de Bruyne and Ivan Perisic.

He was only 20 years old. Rest in peace, Junior.