Daily Schmankerl: Bayern Munich eyeing Inter Milan’s Nicolò Barella?; Chelsea told no on Erling Haaland again; Niko Kovac wants Marcelo; and MORE!

Bayern to make a move for Barrella? (Gazzetta)

Is Bayern Munich taking a peek at Inter Milan midfielder Nicolò Barella? Per a report from Gazzetta (as captured by @iMiaSanMia), the Bavarians are taking a close look at the 23-year-old midfielder:

Per Transfermarkt, Barella is valued at €55million and could be yet another midfielder brought in to shakeup the roster next season.

Barella has seen most of his action as an 8, but does have some experience playing as both a 6 and 10:

• Central Midfield: 165 games
• Attacking Midfield: 36 games
• Defensive Midfield: 18 games
• Left Midfield: 2 games
• Right Midfield: 1 games

That kind of versatility might be appealing to Bayern Munich manager Hansi Flick, especially if the club loses Javi Martinez, Corentin Tolisso, and Tiago Dantas, who could all be jettisoned after this season.

This season Barella has two goals and eight assists in 25 games across all competitions.

Londoners told ‘No’ on Haaland once more (Bild)

Chelsea is reeling on the pitch and scrambling off of it right now as it struggles with buyer’s remorse on Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. In an attempt to get out in front of a solution for two players that do not seem to fit, Chelsea is badgering Borussia Dortmund about Erling Haaland.

Dortmund, however, does not seem willing to play ball...at all:

The BVB striker is now probably the most sought-after player in Europe. Barcelona, ​​Real, ManCity — Haaland is always associated with another top club.

Now the online magazine “The Athletic” reports that Chelsea FC is on the Norwegian. Chelsea should therefore be ready for Haaland to break the club’s own transfer record, which was set up in the summer — around 100 million euros for national player Kai Havertz (21).

According to BILD information, BVB also leaves a possible offer of the blues in the summer, cold. Haaland’s contract in Dortmund runs until 2024. He does not have an exit clause after this season — it will take effect in 2022 at the earliest.

For the record, I really hope that Chelsea sells both Werner and Havertz before any more damage can be done to them. This is going to be mentally exhausting and could have long-term effects on each player’s confidence if things do not turn around quickly.

Sometimes things just do not work.

Kovac wants Marcelo (Bild)

Former Bayern Munich manager Niko Kovac is reportedly interested in bringing Real Madrid left-back Marcelo to AS Monaco:

The French club is said to offer the Brazilian a three-year contract with an annual salary of six million euros net. In summer at the latest, the Monegasque wants to convince Marcelo.

It is a difficult decision, because Marcelo (contract until 2022) currently earns nine million euros net per year in Madrid. A move to Monaco would therefore be associated with financial losses. What speaks for it is the contract duration. Getting three years at his old age isn’t exactly common.

But Kovac’s club also has competition from Italy: Juventus Turin should also be interested in the Real star.

Thauvin in the rumor mill once again (Transfer Market Web)

Olympique Marseille winger Florian Thauvin was linked to Bayern Munich at one point, but the move never happened. Now, it seems that during every transfer window there is at least one big rumor that the veteran will bolt Marseille. For this window, Italy is all the rage for Thauvin:

Likely to part ways with Olympique de Marseille on a free move, once current season’s over, almost 28-year old French attacking midfielder/winger Florian Thauvin is still tracked by both AC Milan and AS Roma. Former Newcastle playmaker was inquired about by a bunch more Italian clubs, namely Atalanta, Fiorentina, Lazio, and Napoli.

Bayern Frauen bring Ivana Rudelić back to Munich (FCBayern.de)

Former Bayern Munich striker Ivana Rudelić is making her return to Bavaria after spending the last two and a half season with Bayer Leverkusen. The 28-year-old spent six years in Munich

“I’m very happy and just can’t believe that I’m back here at FC Bayern,” Rudelić said. “Nothing better could have happened to me.”

Rudelić featured in 10 games in the first half of the Bundesliga season for Leverkusen; however, she was yet to find the back of the net. Over the last two season with Leverkusen, Rudelić banged home 14 goals total. Her role in Munich is almost certainly a backup and spot-starter with both Jovana Damnjanovic and Viviane Asseyi recovering from injuries.

“Since my time at Bayern, a lot has changed, of course, with the conditions here on campus, the space conditions, the athletic and physio options, with the team behind the team. Everything has developed tremendously, but what has stayed the same: Bavaria still has the same character. You are a big family here and I was welcomed so warmly, as if I had come back to the family, as if I had only done a semester abroad.”

In 2012, Rudelić scored in stoppage time to secure Bayern’s 2-0 victory in the 2012 DFB Pokal Final. Here you can see the glorious video.

—Phillip Quinn

Bayern Frauen also targeting Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir (Soccer Donna)

According to Icelandic reports (via Soccer Donna), Bayern Munich are close to signing midfielder Karólína Lea Vilhjálmsdóttir. The 19-year-old midfielder won the Úrvalsdeild kvenna (Icelandic women’s first division) last season with her club Breiðablik. She’s already made 78 appearances in the top flight and has notched four appearances for the national team.

— Phillip Quinn