Daily Schmankerl: Timo Werner *still* a Bayern target, Paderborn interested in Früchtl, Thiago extension imminent, and Kalou scandalizes the Bundesliga

Timo Werner still a Bayern target (kicker)

If you thought that the Timo Werner transfer saga had finally ended with Werner’s statement that he would prefer to transfer abroad than transfer to Bayern Munich, well think again — for now. Bayern Munich is not so easily put off. Here is what kicker had to say about Werner:

The question of signing Timo Werner (24) is not yet definitively off the table, despite the fact that he has voiced his preference for a transfer abroad. Word at Säbener Strasse is that such statements can be ignored and could also be tactically motivated. FC Liverpool expressed its interest in Werner (contract until 2023), who has a release clause in the range of €50-60 million. Reports that Liverpool recently offered €50 million in wages for a five-year contract are incorrect according to kicker’s information.

The Mirror recently claimed that Liverpool cannot afford to make any big signings this summer in consequence of the coronavirus crisis. If Leipzig cannot find a major suitor for its will-away star, that could play right into Bayern’s hands, should they still be interested in a cheaper alternative to Leroy Sané, whose commitment to “work hard” was most recently questioned by Jupp Heynckes.

SC Paderborn interested in Früchtl (kicker)

Bayern Munich’s up-and-coming goalkeeper Christian Früchtl made an appearance in kicker’s Transferticker yesterday: kicker reports that “Früchtl could become a subject of interest if Paderborn should need to fill a goalkeeping position again.”

As AZ specifies, Früchtl would potentially replace Jannik Huth, who might leave the club at the end of the season. Früchtl is not the only candidate for the position, though.

Thiago at Säbener Strasse to sign an extension? (Bild)

Bild’s Johnny-on-the-spot at Säbener Strasse, Dennis Brosda, snapped a picture of Thiago Alcantara arriving at the parking garage. Two minutes after Thiago was let in, head of international relations and translator Johannes Mösmang arrived.

What on earth could they be up to on a day off? Bild speculates that they may have both come for Thiago to sign a contract extension.

It is certainly plausible: Thiago was the next player up, after Thomas Müller, while talks with Manuel Neuer and David Alaba remain ongoing. Normally, only Thiago’s agent would presumably need to be present if talks were still going — as we saw most recently in the case of Manuel Neuer’s agent Thomas Kroth.

Was it for an extension? If it was, we will surely hear about it soon.

Four players on the way out? (TZ)

Club president Herbert Hainer recently spoke about Bayern’s efforts to sign David Alaba, Manuel Neuer, and Thiago to a contract extension. “We’re not under any pressure,” he said, “All three are under contract until 2021. But of course we want to attain clarity for the club and the players as soon as possible.”

Funny he should mention 2021: there are four other players whose contracts expire in 2021, whom Hainer did not mention at all. They are Jerome Boateng, Javi Martinez, Sven Ulreich, and Ron-Thorben Hoffmann.

Might Hainer have inadvertently revealed that Bayern does not intend to extend these four players? Maybe, maybe not. If Bayern does not offer them an extension, they could leave the club on a free transfer at the conclusion of next season (2020/21).

Coutinho and Tolisso on crutches

Alas, the break from regular play has not gone smoothly for Corentin Tolisso or Philippe Coutinho. After serious injuries and subsequent operations, the duo were spotted limping their way to physiotherapy at Säbener Strasse:

Gute Besserung, Jungs!

Bayern’s hotel plans for the Bundesliga restart (Bild)

Bild gave a survey of the Bundesliga clubs’ plans to put themselves in quarantine before the hypothetical resumption of the Bundesliga season. Here is what they had to say about Bayern:

► Bayern will go into quarantine a week before the start. Where remains to be determined. One option: the team hotel Infinity in Unterschleißheim. What’s clear: the club — as always — will take along its own cooks from Alfons Schuhbeck’s team. Already on Thursday, team manager Kathleen Krüger and team doctor Dr. Peter Ueblacker gave a presentation of the measures, which translator Johannes Mösmang also attended.

Hahohe now — Salomon Kalou suspended for flouting coronavirus measures in video scandal

Hertha Berlin’s veteran attacker Salomon Kalou touched off a firestorm of criticism in the Bundesliga after he filmed himself flouting social-distancing measures live on Facebook! Here are two excerpts from the video in question (still on Twitter as of 9 pm ET, May 4):

The DFL’s reaction came swiftly. They immediately condemned Kalou’s actions as completely unacceptable:

The pictures of Salomon Kalou from the locker room of Hertha BSC are absolutely unacceptable. There cannot be any tolerance for such conduct — also with respect to players and clubs that follow the guidelines, because they have grasped the seriousness of the situation.

Hertha Berlin has suspended Kalou. In a statement, the club emphasized that “this was the transgression of a single player.” The fact that his teammates exchanged handshakes with him shows that the “regular emphasis on distancing and hygienic measures must be made even more forcefully.”

Kalou himself apologized in the release for “giving the impression that I don’t take the coronavirus seriously.” He has been suspended by the club — indefinitely, is seems.