Daily Schmankerl: Another Corentin Tolisso for Christian Eriksen swap rumor; Bundesliga suitors for Julian Draxler; Arsenal wants Dominik Szoboszlai; and MORE!

Another Eriksen-for-Tolisso swap rumor (Sempre Inter)

Another news outlet is reporting that Inter Milan is optimistic about a prospective swap deal with Bayern Munich for Corentin Tolisso. Sempre Inter captured a report out of Belgium indicating that a trade is possible (rubs chin skeptically):

Inter could make a move to sign Bayern Munich’s Corentin Tolisso according to a report from Belgian news outlet Voetbal Nieuws. Inter look set to get rid of Christian Eriksen who has continuously struggled in his time with the club and the Nerazzurri are said to be open to doing a swap deal. Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka and Manchester United’s Fred are both option and as per this report, Tolisso is another option that has been added to the list.

The report goes on to explain that Inter are optimistic about come to an agreement with Bayern Munich over a swap deal involving Tolisso and Eriksen although it is not entirely clear at this moment as to whether Bayern Munich would like Eriksen.

Therein lies the rub...I can’t figure out why Bayern Munich would want to make that swap deal either.

Kroos talks Mannschaft debacle (Sport Bild)

When Germany was shellacked 6-0 by Spain on November 17th, Real Madrid midfielder Toni Kroos was one of the players who took the most heat. In reflecting on the game, Kroos admitted to Sport Bild that he never felt so hopeless during a game.

“When I look back in my career, it wasn’t the bitterest defeat — that was possibly the Champions League final in 2012 — but definitely the most obvious,” said Kroos. “On the pitch, I lost myself also never felt so hopeless. We performed really badly and it will be important to see what went so wrong there. Three months ago we played Spain with almost the same team and we had a good game. That came out 1:1 and we should have actually won.”

Kroos can probably look over at the sideline to start with what went wrong, but he was assuredly part of the problem as well. Still, Kroos is hopeful that things will get better.

“I still hope that we see this as an opportunity,” Kroos said. “It will get better again, we have proven that many times.”

Suitors lining up for Draxler (Transfer Market Web)

According to one report, Bayer Leverkusen, Wolfsburg, and Hertha Berlin are all eager to bring Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Julian Draxler back to Germany. Leeds United and Sevilla are also believed to be in the running:

Possibly leaving Paris Saint-Germain in January, after four years in, German international midfielder/winger Julian Draxler (27), according to Transfermarkt.de, has been targeted by Bayer Leverkusen, as well as by Wolfsburg, which he’s been playing for from September 2015 to December 2016, and by Hertha Berlin, already inquiring him last summer. Besides, former Schalke 04 powerhouse is tracked by Sevilla FC and Leeds United.

Gunners plotting move for Szoboszlai (Football London)

Despite numerous rumors pointing him to RB Leipzig, RB Salzburg star Dominik Szoboszlai still is garnering interest from Arsenal:

Szoboszlai has caught the eye with his impressive performances for Red Bull Salzburg in the Champions League group stages this season, with the Hungarian also playing a key role in sending his country to next summer’s European Championships. The 20-year-old looks like the real deal. He is averaging three key passes per 90 minutes in the Champions League this term (as per WhoScored), as well as 2.3 shots per 90 minutes.

He has found the net twice in just three appearances and was especially impressive in last month’s match against Atletico Madrid. Arsenal have been strongly linked with a move for Szoboszlai, and the attacking midfielder has a release clause of £22.5 million written into his contract. However, that status could put him out of Arsenal’s reach. Szoboszlai has been linked with almost every elite club, with Juventus and Real Madrid reportedly interested in making a move once the January transfer window opens.

ICYMI: Müller’s message (@FCBayernUS)

Milan scoping Mandzukic (Transfer Market Web)

I still ponder how different things might look and how much more confident I might be in the Bayern Munich bench if the board would have signed Mario Mandzukic. Instead, the free agent is allegedly being courted by AC Milan:

Still a free agent, former Croatian international striker Mario Mandzukic (34), according to Tuttosport, has been targeted by AC Milan. Former Juventus hitman was previously pursued by more clubs, including Benevento, Fiorentina, and West Ham.

Raiola predicts FIFA demise (ESPN)

Super-agent Mino Raiola is ready for FIFA to hit the bricks in favor of a “MLS-style” system.

“FIFA is 50 years behind,” said Raiola to ESPN. “FIFA in 10 years, you can write it down, won’t exist anymore. The golf association doesn’t have a FIFA and golf is being played in the whole world. Tennis is changing. Formula 1 is changing. There is a problem with FIFA: they divide jobs, they divide money and that’s how they keep everyone happy.”

Raiola, ultimately wants a new system to govern global soccer.

“MLS did it,” Raiola said. “MLS created 20 years ago a new system. MLS 20 years ago said we have nothing to do with FIFA. Nothing. FIFA said that MLS was something ridiculous. You know what they did? FBI arrested half of FIFA and they gave them the World [Cup].”

Of course, one part of MLS that Raiola would like to leave behind is the salary restrictions.

“How can you cap a talent? How can you cap a talent if tomorrow [Diego] Maradona walks in and you say ‘I need you, I want you to play for my audience,’ that should be a salary cap?” Raiola said. “We are living in a capitalist world, where we do everything in a capitalist way, but Gianni Infantino wants to go back to North Korea. I have no problem with North Korea, but go live in North Korea and not in Switzerland.”

Maybe most importantly for you FIFA-playing folks, Raiola sounds like he is seeking to lead his own movement to restructure the financial arrangement for players whose likenesses appear in the game:

He also criticized the use of players’ rights in EA Sports’ FIFA video game, suggesting that it was FIFA and not the players benefiting financially from the arrangement.