Daily Schmankerl: Manuel Neuer will sign, Matthäus says, Bayern seeking extension for Coutinho, record ratings for the Bundesliga, and more!

Progress with Manuel Neuer (Bild), Matthäus confident he will sign (SportBuzzer)

Bild reports in their Wednesday edition progress on contract extension talks with Manuel Neuer. Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic and Oliver Kahn have nearly reached a deal with Neuer that will tie him to the club beyond 2021. “Word in the club is that only minutiae remain to be clarified,” Bild says.

Former player and club ambassador Lothar Matthäus is likewise confident that Neuer will soon sign an extension. He said the following in an interview with SportBuzzer:

I’m convinced that Manuel Neuer will play for FC Bayern in the coming years, and FC Bayern will be happy to have Manuel Neuer. But Manuel Neuer obviously knows his market value and sees what others are earning. And he’s the captain of FC Bayern and the national team. He’s one of the best goalkeepers in the world, maybe even the best, and he doesn’t cost any transfer fee if he extends. That’s part of the total package.

Of course I think it’s a shame what is happening right now. That’s not FC Bayern-like. Nobody went to the media with Hansi Flick and Thomas Müller’s contract extensions. But in the end, Manuel Neuer will extend his contract, because he won’t find anything better. There are almost no better clubs. And if he wants to win the Champions League again, he’s in a good position at FC Bayern.

Bayern Munich in talks with Barcelona to extend Coutinho past June 30 (Bild)

You may have already seen that Bayern Munich has reportedly offered Leroy Sané jersey number 10 once he finally, finally joins the club. But it is not his yet. Until Philippe Coutinho’s loan ends, the number once worn by Arjen Robben remains his.

After Coutinho’s ankle injury and surgery, it is not even certain that he may play for Bayern at all, and almost certainly not in the Bundesliga. But there is some hope that he could help the club realize its Champions League ambitions, if, as UEFA intends, the competition is played to the end.

The catch is Coutinho’s loan contract, which currently expires at the end of June, the usual deadline. If the Champions League resumes in August, some arrangement will need to be made. Bild reports that Bayern is already talking with Barca about retaining Coutinho for that contingency.

Giovane Elber fascinated by Robert Lewandowski (Sport Bild)

Former Bayern Munich forward and club ambassador Giovane Elber believes Robert Lewandowski stands a good chance of beating Gerd Müller’s almost 50-year-old record of 40 goals in a single season.

Asked whether he thought Lewandowski could break the record or win the Champions League, Elber said, “Wow... I think that it’s currently easier for Robert to break the record. There is still a ton of games to play and I think he can break Müller’s record because he scores in almost every game.”

“Winning the Champions League,” Elber continued, “is more complicated. Ideally, of course, he accomplishes both.”

Elber shared an anecdote about Lewandowski: “Robert told me once that his father regularly watched the Bundesliga and told him, ‘Watch this player closely: Giovane Elber.’” Elber, who scored 140 goals between 1997 and 2003 replied, “You are not as good as me. You’re even better.”

Lewandowski has scored already 231 goals for Bayern Munich. Elber said, “It is really impressive how focused he is. I’m moreover impressed by his calm and his character. He is a spectacular guy.”

And Lewy is a grounded family man, as you will see below.

Bundesliga viewership on Fox Sports sets new records

But wait, here’s more! Mönchengladbach and Eintracht are now third-most!

Manchester City gets its day in court (SI)

The Court of Arbitration for Sport has announced that Manchester City will have a three-day hearing in June (8-10) to plead its case for appealing a two-year ban from the Champions League for flouting Financial Fair Play regulations.

The court must reach a decision before the Champions League draw for next season to determine which English teams will play in the competition. The draw is scheduled for August 27 and will be held in Monaco.

UEFA ruled that ManCity was guilty of “overstating its sponsorship revenue in its accounts and in the break-even information submitted to UEFA between 2012 and 2016,” and the organization moreover fined the club €30 million.

Lewandowski with his girls and a selfie-stick

Klara’s jersey game is already strong:

Introducing Meownuel Neuer!

Jerome riding in style