Daily Schmankerl: Juventus eyeing David Alaba?; The aftermath of Germany vs. Ukraine; Bastian Schweinsteiger speaks out; and MORE!

Juve fantasizing they can sign Alaba on €8m in wages (Calciomercato, Tuttosport)

According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, Juventus could make a run at Bayern Munich’s David Alaba. They claims that Juventus manager Andre Pirlo is a big fan of Alaba, although Manchester City also supposedly is interested in Alaba. But Calciomercato claims that Juve wants to lure Alaba to Turin with an €8m package in wages... While reports in Germany mainly claim Alaba is seeking something more in the range of €20m. good luck, Juve! It will be very interesting to see which side blinks first: Bayern Munich or Team Alaba, which is led by Pini Zahavi.

The reports also states that Alaba’s expected price would normally be in the €60 million to €70 million range, but with Alaba in the final year of his contract, that figure likely will not even come into play.

Die Folgen: Germany’s narrow 2-1 victory over Ukraine (Bavarian Football Works)

Sometimes having to watch a game on delay is a blessing. You can kind of brace yourself for what you are about to see if you know the end result. Germany’s 2-1 victory over Ukraine was one of those games. Below are some quick hitters on the match:

• I’m a fan of...you know...ensuring your best players are on the field and I don’t think Germany’s formation yesterday (whether you call it a 3-5-2 or 3-4-2-1 doesn’t matter) actually puts the team’s best 11 out on the pitch. Until Joachim Löw evolves here, it just feels like Germany is treading water.
• The lack of offensive creativity is an issue. Only beating Ukraine 2-1 is an issue. The overall lack of urgency is an issue. This team is — and has been — playing like a squad that no longer responds to the manager.

• I’m sort of past the point of making it a campaign against Löw, but he is not helping himself. Has he lost the team? Does he not know how to work his way through this block? Is he just not quite the same manager he once was? The DFB is going to have to look at all of those things.
• The eye test is always big. Statistics can tell one story, but this Germany team — in its current form — is failing the eye test miserably on just about every level.
• At the end of the day, a win is a win, but man, let’s see Germany look better moving forward.

If you missed our Match Awards or Observations, give them a look:

Schweinsteiger calls for Boateng return to Die Mannachaft (Tz)

Germany legend Bastian Schweinsteiger seems to be nudging Löw to bring back Jerome Boateng to help sure up the national team’s defense.

“Personally, I always say that the best players in Germany should play for the national team. I see Jerome at a very high level, you saw that in the Champions League,” Schweinsteiger said.

Boateng, Mats Hummels, Thomas Muller...they all would look good wearing Germany’s kid right now. Anyway, Schweinsteiger also dug into what he thinks is going wrong with the German attack.

“Sometimes I miss the central defender’s activity with the ball,” said Schweinsteiger (as captured by the Münchner Merkur). “Sometimes Joshua (Kimmich) or Toni Kroos get the ball deep and we have one player too few in the final third.”

The legend isn’t wrong you know. Anyway, this last quote had to cut like a knife to people in the DFB:

Muller’s dogs to brighten your day(@FCBayernUS)

If that Germany game left you frustrated, here is a picture of Muller with his pups:

Watch your nuts (@ftbllrswanimals)

Hertha Berlin defender Marvin Plattenhardt might be the “Squirrel Whisperer.” I must say, though, those nuts are in a precarious position. Which nuts you ask? All of them.

Presence of Wirtz blocked potential Götze move to Leverkusen (kicker)

According to Bayer Leverkusen manager Peter Bosz, Mario Götze wanted a move to the Bay Arena, but the club had a good reason for not pulling the trigger: Florian Wirtz. Leverkusen simply did not want to take any chances with stifling Wirtz, a 17-year-old phenom, might have s

“He wanted to come to Leverkusen,” said Werkself boss Peter Bosz. “But we also have young Florian Wirtz running around in that position.”

Götze would have been a fascinating pick-up for Leverkusen, but it was not to be as Wirtz’s development was considered a priority. Instead, the 28-year-old signed with PSV Eindhoven, where he should be able to make a great impact.