Daily Schmankerl: Bayern already giving up on Leroy Sané — or is the English press just playing telephone?

Transfer rumor telephone: Bayern already giving up on Sané?

Bild published a paywalled article two days ago exploring what options Bayern Munich might pursue if the Leroy Sané’s transfer from Manchester City to Bayern “actually fails.” They suggest: spend on Havertz, maybe sign Ivan Perisic or Philippe Coutinho permanently after all, or reconsider Timo Werner. Is that worth your subscription? Not really, but at least it isn’t totally preposterous.

A lot can be lost in translation — or is it gained? At any rate, SportWitness got a hold of Bild’s story and according to them, Bayern’s interest in other players is much more concrete:

Bild say Sane to Bayern was considered ‘almost certain’ but now that serious doubt has crept in, the German club will look at other options.

And from there it’s a short leap to the mainstream Manchester Evening News:

However reports in Bild, who have been leading the Sane to Bayern speculation, via SportWitness, suggest that they may have given up the chase.

It’s reported that Bayern have been left ‘frustrated’ by Sane’s swap of agents, which would lead to negotiations starting over, and ‘will look at other options.’

So readers in Manchester might assume Bayern really have moved on. But that’s nonsense, at least for now. Bild’s suggestion of a few alternatives to signing Sané is a far cry from actual evidence that Bayern has lost interest, let alone is actively looking at other options.

Bayern II’s Josip Stanisic suffers knee injury (FC Bayern)

Bayern is being very sparse with the information released right now regarding Josip Stanisic’s knee injury. We know he has suffered a right knee injury in training but that’s all we know at this point.

The Bayern II defender will be out for some time, b ut until the official word comes down from the club, it’s hard to know exactly how long that time will be.

Alphonso Davies (still) thrilled to be at Bayern (Bundesliga.com)

Wait, didn’t we just run this story last week?

I thought so...

Anyway, Alphonso Davies is still very happy to be doing great things at Bayern Munich. Bundesliga.com interviewed Davies yet again and got him to reveal a few interesting things in addition to everything we’ve already heard.

Davies reiterated that he is “very comfortable” at left-back. He doesn’t mind where Hansi Flick plays him:

No, I don’t have a preference. Wherever the coach wants to put me. Up, down. It doesn’t matter. I’m able to give 100 per cent.

Davies also revealed that he began playing quite late:

I started playing football around the age of 12 or 10. I’m not too sure of the exact age. I started playing football later than most of my friends. Most of them started playing at a very young age. At first I was just playing with my friends at school, outside, but then one of my friends at school came to me and said ‘there’s a team try-out. Let’s go try it out’ so I said ‘no problem’. We went and luckily the coach said we all made the team so that’s how it started. Football’s been in my family though; my dad, my brother. They played. Watching them growing up, it made me want to be a footballer as well.

Obviously, that is bad news for the thousands of parents spending thousands of dollars (or whatever currency) to hire private coaches for their five-year-olds, but I digress.

Davies was also asked to comment about his hilarious, and accurate, impression of Thomas Müller’s goal celebration. He said,

Watching Thomas from a young age, he doesn’t really celebrate. He just goes “yaaaghhh,” you know? He doesn’t really have a signature celebration. He’s just… a simple guy!

Speaking of impressions:

Paco Alcacer already gone

I guess he was surplus to requirements after Erling Haaland descended from heaven.

Spanish doping ring broken up; expect shockwaves in the soccer world soon...

Socks and shorts leak! (Footy Headlines)

This kit leaked last month, but Footy Headlines is now calling it “confirmed” and adds that both the accompanying socks and shorts will be — surprise! — red. So there you go: