Daily Schmankerl: Liverpool among top contenders for Bayern Munich’s David Alaba; Three teams hunting Real Madrid’s Luka Jovic; Pep Guardiola wants Eden Hazard; Dominik Szoboszlai injured; and MORE!

LFC part of the mix for Alaba (@FabrizioRomano)

It appears that Liverpool is a strong contender for David Alaba, but still lacking behind Real Madrid in the race to land Bayern Munich’s versatile defender.

Alaba’s salary, however, is a legitimate roadblock for all of the clubs rumored to be in the mix for the Austria international. Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano shed some light on the situation:

If — and it’s a relatively big if — Real Madrid agrees to meet Alaba’s aggressive salary demands, it could potentially have a trickle-down effect on players like Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric. If you want more on how things line up on the other side of this fence, check out our Q&A with Managing Madrid from yesterday.

This is...awesome (@FCBayernUS)

Sometimes there is pure gold on social media...and this is it:

Hunt for Jovic heating up (Transfer Market Web)

It seems that three teams have emerged as favorites for Real Madrid striker Luka Jovic as Hertha Berlin, Wolverhampton, and Eintracht Frankfurt are all in hot pursuit of the 23-year-old Serbian:

Still possibly leaving Real Madrid after a season and a half, Serbian international striker Luka Jovic (23), according to Transfermarkt.de, is tracked hard by both Hertha Berlin and Wolverhampton, as well as by former club of his Eintracht Frankfurt. Currently on a deal with Blancos until June 2024, Jovic seems tempted to experience his first Premier League tenure.

I don’t have a dog in this fight (despite having a little bit of an affinity for Die Adler after seeing Eintracht Frankfurt play live), but I do hope that Jovic comes back to the Bundesliga. I think it will make the league better and also give him a chance to get his career back on track in a familiar environment.

Lewandowski is just wrecking shop (@FCBayernUS)

Robert Lewandowski is pretty good:

Pep wants Hazard (!?) (Sky Sports)

According to one report, Pep Guardiola’s dream transfer for Manchester City is...Eden Hazard? Yup, Hazard oder nichts and all that:

Real Madrid forward Eden Hazard is Pep Guardiola’s dream transfer target at Man City, according to reports from Spanish outlet OkDiario. Things have not gone to plan for the former Chelsea man since his £130m move to Spain, plagued by injury and a lack of form.

Guardiola has long been an admirer of Hazard. In an interview last year, as cited by the Daily Express, the Man City manager said: “Not a top player, another level above. What we saw in England… he is world-class. The whole world knows that you need a period of adaptation.”

I...agree with Pep here (though this is probably another one of my bad takes).

Szoboszlai out with injury (@RaeComm)

For anyone hoping to see RB Leipzig’s prized winter transfer suit up this month, you might be disappointed. Dominik Szoboszlai is reportedly out with an abductor injury:

With an injury game this strong, I’m more positive than ever that he should have signed with Bayern Munich.

Oh my... (@r1cs11)

This thread is utter brilliance: