Daily Schmankerl: Bayern inquired about Jadon Sancho, Hainer hopes Thiago and Alaba extend, Nübel’s agent speaks

Sources tell ESPN old news (about Jadon Sancho)

Here’s the big scoop from ESPN yesterday:

Manchester United face competition to land Borussia Dortmund’s Jadon Sancho this summer, with sources telling ESPN that Bayern Munich made enquiries about him before the coronavirus shutdown.

Well, yes, but we already knew that. Sky Sport picked up on Bayern’s interest in Sancho in mid-February, before the coronavirus crisis resulted in the suspension of the league. Since it was utterly preposterous then that Borussia Dortmund would sell their jewel to Bayern Munich, we Schmankerl’d (yeah, it’s a verb now) it even then:

ESPN isn’t blind to that either, obviously. So after duly citing Sancho’s contract information (signed until 2022) and hypothetical transfer fee should he leave thus summer (€120 million), they say,

Sources have told ESPN that Dortmund do not want to keep pushing the narrative that they are a feeder club for their domestic rivals. Mario Götze, Robert Lewandowski and Mats Hummels have all left Borussia for Bayern in high profile deals in the past.

Yes. That’s the crux. Anyway, ESPN’s sources say Bayern “will press ahead with a bid for Sancho if any move for Sane stalls,” but that’s like me saying I’ll “press ahead with a bid for a Ferrari” if my move for a Honda at my used car dealership falls through. Not gonna happen.

Oh, and there’s this (retweeted by Bild’s self-appointed truth-vendor):

Herbert Hainer hopes Alaba and Thiago extend (AZ)

Manuel Neuer was the last domino to fall, but Bayern is still working on the contract extensions of David Alaba and Thiago. Earlier this month, word was that Thiago’s contract was virtually done, but Alaba is less certain. His new super-agent Pini Zahavi was stuck in Israel during the coronavirus and cannot travel to Munich to negotiate in person.

It is no secret that the club wants to tie both players down for several more years with new contracts. Club president Herbert Hainer confirmed the club’s interest in doing so in a comment. He said, “They are two incredibly valuable players for FC Bayern.” Until they agree to terms, though, Bayern will have to wait.

Hansi Flick boasts best goals average of any coach in Bundesliga history (Bundesliga.com)

That 2-0 win over Union Berlin was historic after all: the two goals were numbers 49 and 50 of Hansi Flick’s now 16-game tenure as head coach of Bayern Munich. That translates into a rate of 3.1 goals per game, the highest rate of any head coach in the current Bundesliga’s 57-year history.

Alexander Nübel’s agent discusses Neuer’s extension (Sport1)

Manuel Neuer’s contract extension until 2023 left many fans asking what the club might do with Alexander Nübel, the erstwhile Schalke starter who seems doomed to the bench for the foreseeable future. Nübel’s agent, Stefan Backs, however, insists that everything is going according to plan.

Backs told Sport1, “FC Bayern never hid from us that they wanted to extend Manuel Neuer’s contract. We were informed of this step from the start.”

FC Bayern and Paulaner support free beer (GastroStarthilfe.de)

Bayern Munich has joined its partner Paulaner and several other mostly local German brewers in the “Gastro Starthilfe Aktion” to support local restaurants. The group is donating one million liters of beer to support the gastronomie industry that has been impacted by the coronavirus crisis.

In addition to the initial 1m, the group is donating a free liter (i.e. a Maß) for every crate of beer sold.

Support gastronomy together with our partner Paulaner — with the Gastro Starthilfe Aktion! For every crate of beer sold in May and June, a liter of Freibier will be given for gastronomy.

You might not know this, but ’s Freibier (free beer) is a Bavarian institution. Just ask Fredl Fesl.