Daily Schmankerl: Bayern Munich scoping West Ham’s Tomas Soucek?; Neymar’s new release clause; Julian Nagelsmann pondering hockey move; and MORE!

Bayern eyeing Soucek? (TEAMtalk)

There have been dozens of rumors that say Bayern Munich is looking for a midfielder. From Frenkie de Jong to Florian Neuhaus to Denis Zakaria to Boubacar Kamara and more; the Bavarians always seems to be in the news when it comes to a potential midfield transfer.

Now, it appears, we can add one more name to the list: West Ham United’s Tomas Soucek, though it likely won’t be easy to get him:

West Ham are ready to offer a bumper new contract to in-form Czech star Tomas Soucek, TEAMtalk understands. The Hammers have been hugely impressed with their midfield star, who has become a key performer in David Moyes’ first-team. Soucek only signed a permanent deal in the summer, after he joined on-loan from Slavia Prague in January.

Despite only arriving in the summer on a four-year deal, West Ham have already approached his representatives with the idea of giving him a pay-rise. The London side are aware that his form since arriving in England has not gone unnoticed. Indeed, Bayern Munich are already monitoring the player, along with some other European big hitters.

Given how many midfielders are on the injury list in some way, maybe Bayern Munich is starting to ramp up its recruiting efforts:

• Injured: Joshua Kimmich, Javi Martinez, Tanguy Nianzou
• Coming off an injury: Corentin Tolisso
• Potentially injured: Leon Goretzka

Anyway, with all of the ailments going on, Marc Roca will have to be sliding up Hansi Flick’s depth chart, right?

Anyone?

Bueller? Bueller?

Neymar’s new release clause (Transfer Market Web)

Hey hey! You can (allegedly) get Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar for the bargain basement price of €100 million:

Purchased from Barcelona FC, back in summer 2017, on a 222 million euros record-sum transfer fee, Brazilian international winger/forward Neymar (28), heavily linked to a Blaugrana move back for a long time, is going to up for sale on an about 100 million euros demand, according to L’Equipe. Although less than half his sale price of three years and a half ago, such request is meant to put Barça off their re-signing suggestion.

Costa was involved in Pogba swap talks before Bayern move (Sports Mole)

The mess surrounding Paul Pogba and Manchester United has somehow touched Bayern Munich — in an odd way. With Pogba potentially looking like he is rolling out of Manchester on the next flight, Juventus is eager to bring in its former charge.

What does that have to do with Bayern Munich? Well, apparently Bayern winger Douglas Costa was almost part of a swap deal from Juventus for Pogba that also included Miralem Pjanic. Manchester United reportedly rejected Juventus’ summer offer to bring in Douglas Costa and Miralem Pjanic in exchange for Pogba:

Speculation surrounding the midfielder’s future has intensified ever since his agent Mino Raiola claimed that Pogba’s time at Old Trafford is “over”, with the France international tied down to United until 2022.

Juventus are regarded as the favorites to secure their former player’s signature should he indeed end up leaving United, and according to Calciomercato, United rebuffed an attempt by the Serie A champions to prize Pogba away from Old Trafford earlier this year.

The report claims that Costa and Pjanic were both offered to Ole Gunnar Solskjaer — with Juve unable to fork out a fee of €100m (£91.6m) - but United were not willing to consider a deal. Pjanic ended up moving to Barcelona in a deal which saw Arthur head in the other direction, while Costa is back at Bayern Munich on a season-long loan.

Nagelsmann hitting the rink?(@tobygilles)

If anyone will appreciate this note, it might be our Canadian contingent. Apparently RB Leipzig manager Julian Nagelsmann is working to get back in shape so he can get back to playing...ice hockey:

Raiola tries to slam Falk (@cfbayern)

As many of you saw yesterday, we had a “senior division” Twitter beef. Mino Raiola hit social media to clown Bild, but Falk Master Flex replied with one of his patented comebacks:

Bernat to Barca? (Sport Bild)

Former Bayern Munich player Juan Bernat could be headed back to Spain per Sport Bild:

In the summer of 2018, Juan Bernat left FC Bayern after four years for Paris. PSG paid five million euros for the Spaniard at the time. A bargain, as it turned out in retrospect.

The Spanish radio station “Onda Cero” reports that Bernat will be the top candidate at FC Barcelona for the left if Victor Font wins the election as club president. The 27-year-old Bernat is set to compete with Jordi Alba, four years his senior, on the left wing. Since Bernat is free after the current season, a commitment for the financially stricken Catalans would be classified as a top transfer.

Former Bayern target Bailey to the Prem? (Transfer Market Web)

Bayer Leverkusen winger Leon Bailey was being reportedly being scoped by Bayern Munich at one point, but now it looks like his future could be in the Premier League if he decides to leave Die Werkself:

Previously close to join either AS Roma or Napoli, Jamaican international winger Leon Bailey (23), playing for Bayer Leverkusen since February 2017, has been targeted by four Premier League clubs, namely Arsenal, Everton, Manchester United, and Tottenham. Currently on a deal with German side until June 2023, former Genk wonderkid was reportedly approached by Leeds United during last transfer window, which had Peacocks ending up being turned down on a noteworthy €40m bid upon Bailey.