Daily Schmankerl: Didi Hamann unnecessarily bashes Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sané; Dayot Upamecano-to-Bayern update; Manchester United spurned on Kingsley Coman move; PSG prepping for Leo Messi move; and MORE!

Hamann lights up Sané (Tz)

Player-turned-pundit Didi Hamann is not a fan of Bayern Munich’s Leroy Sané. Speaking to Tz about the strengths and weaknesses of some of the Bundesliga’s top clubs, Sané seemed to have struck a nerve with Hamann:

“I said from the start: this is his last chance to assert himself at a top club,” said Hamann. “He had a good period in Manchester at the beginning, then played less again. Jogi Löw left him at home for the 2018 World Cup. There were question marks, and what I keep hearing is that he likes to do his own thing. You can do that if you’re the best in the world. If not, then you have to work for the team. In Manchester, Sané often didn’t follow instructions the way the coach wanted them to. Then he was late at once or twice until Pep Guardiola also said ‘that’s enough’.”

Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images

Hamann was not done there, though.

“At Bayern, you have a strong squad and an experienced core,” Hamann said. “There wasn’t one in Manchester. My hope was that a Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller or Joshua Kimmich would take him aside and say: ‘watch out, that’s how it works here. If you don’t feel like it, you have no place with us’. If you look at it after three months, it doesn’t seem to have worked for him yet. You have to be very clear: he is hardly a better option than Gnabry or Kingsley Coman at the moment. If tomorrow was the Champions League final, he wouldn’t play from the off. That should actually be his claim.”

While Hamann is probably correct in stating that Sané is likely the third-choice winger at this stage of the season, it still feels way too early to bury the 24-year-old. He’s coming off a devastating knee injury, picked up another knock earlier in the season, and is still in the process of adjusting to a new club, new teammates, and a new manager. Maybe let this season — and possibly 2021/2022 — playout before throwing dirt on the Germany international’s grave?

United turned down on Coman pitch (Transfer Market Web)

Manchester United might want Kingsley Coman, but Bayern Munich is certainly not willing to part with the player who has been their top winger this season:

As confirmed by Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, French international winger and Bayern Munich powerhouse Kingsley Coman (24) is not for sale, for the time being at least. To this end, Manchester United were just turned down by German giants, on their attempt to sign CL final game 2020 hero.

Flexxxing some news on Upamecano (@cfbayern)

Sport Bild chief Christian Falk indicated that Bayern Munich is in the “pole position” to land RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano, but is unsure the club wants to spend that much money on any one player:

This information lines up with our post yesterday regarding Bayern Munich’s newfound commitment to its youth players. Given the financial instability created by the pandemic, any big name transfer would have to be a surefire starter that would fill a need on a team.

Upamencano is very good, but does he displace Niklas Süle or Lucas Hernandez (assuming David Alaba and Jerome Boateng both leave) as a bonafide starter?

The answer might need to be a strong “Yes!” for Bayern Munich to invest a large sum into another center-back.

PSG prepping for Messi move? (FootballTransfers)

Could Lionel Messi really leave FC Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain? The website FootballTransfers seems to think so:

Paris Saint-Germain are growing increasingly confident of signing Lionel Messi on a free transfer from Barcelona, having told their stores around the French capital to brace themselves for an influx of business based around shirt sales for the Argentina star, FootballTransfers can reveal.

PSG, along with Manchester City, are one of the two clubs most readily linked with Messi. The Parisians, who would have no trouble fitting the 33-year-old into their superstar team, seem confident of winning the race for Messi. Indeed, their marketing department has briefed shops around the capital to prepare for a rush of trade when the deal is announced. Additionally, PSG have told partner stores licensed to sell their official goods to brace themselves for a flood of interest ahead of a blockbuster deal.

With Barca reportedly set to ask Messi to take a pay cut, perhaps the site of the Argentine legend in Paris might not be far-fetched.

Leipzig not sweating UCL draw (Transfer Market Web)

After dismantling Manchester United’s Champions League hopes, RB Leipzig is not exactly quaking in its boots about drawing Liverpool:

Commenting upon CL round-of-16 draws, RB Leipzig head of football Markus Krosche stated: “There was no room for us to get an easy opponent. We could be paired only against a top club, one of those which won in the past already. We’re going to face Liverpool, Premier League defending champions, and it won’t be easy at all. They are doing fine throughout current season as well. Anyway, no one thought we could get beyond the group round, since we were fending against such clubs as PSG and Manchester United.”

It was not a completely Bundesliga-friendly draw for the quartet of German teams. Bayern Munich (Lazio) is assuredly a favorite, while Borussia Dortmund (Sevilla) should be able to advance, while Borussia Mönchengladbach (Manchester City) and RB Leipzig are probably underdogs.

Lawrence to commit to Germany? (All Nigeria Soccer)

The website allnigeriasoccer.com has sources that indicate that Bayern Munich II defender Jamie Lawrence will commit to Germany for international play:

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that the German Football Association are ahead of their Nigerian counterparts in the race for the services of Bayern Munich central defender Jamie Lawrence. Standing at 6ft 7in, Lawrence has an imposing height for his age and is taller than former Arsenal star Per Mertesacker (6ft 6in).

The 18-year-old joined Bayern Munich in 2017 after he was scouted while playing for Kirchheimer SC U15s, a club based in the eastern district of Munich. The German Football Association have identified Lawrence as one for the future and he earned his first cap for their youth team when he started against Spain at the 2019 U17 Algarve Tournament.

Thauvin to Al-Ain? (Transfer Market Web)

At one point, Olympique Marseille’s Florian Thauvin was linked to Bayern Munich, but now rumors are tying him to many a club, including Al-Ain:

Already tracked by AC Milan, Bayer Leverkusen, and Sevilla FC, 27-year old French attacking midfielder/winger Florian Thauvin, according to latest UAE news, has been targeted by Al-Ain as well. Currently on a deal with Olympique de Marseille until June 2021, Thauvin might be on his way out in January, on an about 14 million euros transfer fee.