Daily Schmankerl: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, Man City all eyeing Benjamin Sesko; Timo Werner almost went to Liverpool; Jerome Boateng back to Germany?; Wolfsburg wants Ricardo Pepi; and MORE!

Bayern among power clubs scoping Sesko (ESPN)

Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, Liverpool, and Manchester City are all scoping towering RB Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko:

Real Madrid have joined Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Manchester City in the race to sign FC Salzburg striker Benjamin Sesko, according to AS.

Sesko, 18, has attracted the attention of several top European clubs since gaining promotion to the first team this summer. The 6-foot-4 striker has scored six goals in 14 games in all competitions this season.

The Slovenia international, who has drawn comparisons in style of play to Borussia Dortmund striker Erling Haaland, is under contract with the Austrian club until June 2026.

The 18-year-old Slovenian is a teammate of another striker, Karim Adeyemi, who has been linked to Bayern Munich.

Liverpool recruited Werner via WhatsApp (Liverpool Echo)

More fallout from the WhatsApp scandal has emerged and it appears that Timo Werner almost made the move to Liverpool instead of Chelsea FC in the summer of 2020:

Prior to signing for Chelsea last year, Timo Werner was heavily linked with a move to both Bayern Munich and Liverpool. In a legal dispute between Werner’s agent Karl-Heinz Forster and his former associate Murat Lokurlu, details have emerged in the last few weeks that claim the clubs first approached him in 2019.

A report in Der Spiegel reveals evidence submitted by Lokurlu as part of the financial disagreement, which includes a number of WhatsApp chats detailing an apparent proposed transfer for Werner two years ago. Werner was in talks with Liverpool and Bayern Munich over a potential move in February 2019, according to Lokurlu’s lawyer.

Further documents submitted claim Liverpool offered Werner a salary of nearly £10.3m per year and almost £21.5m in bonuses. Instead, though, Forster is said to have pushed the then-RB Leipzig forward to sign a pre-contract agreement with Bayern Munich, a move which then collapsed after Werner learned senior figures at the club were not keen on bringing him in.

The German international extended his contract with Leipzig, but was still linked with a move away the following year as interest from Liverpool resurfaced. All signs pointed to the Reds finally landing their man, but Werner instead joined Premier League rivals Chelsea and Liverpool opted to sign Diogo Jota from Wolves.

As we know now, Werner did, indeed, agree to a deal with Bayern Munich, but did not get the sense that he was fully wanted by then-coach Niko Kovac or sporting director Hasan “Brazzo” Salihamidzic.

Flick talked Boateng comeback (Bild via Transfer Market Web)

Jerome Boateng could find his way back to the German national team soon enough:

A return of Jerome Boateng to the German national team is still possible. According to the ‘Bild’, national coach Hansi Flick has already contacted the central defender of Olympique Lyon.

However, the 33-year-old is not a candidate for a timely nomination. In their conversation, the players and coaches agreed that Boateng should first find his way back to his top form at OL.

The long-time FC Bayern defender has played 76 international matches for the senior national team since his debut in 2009. Under Joachim Low he won the World Cup in 2014, four years later he was kicked out after the disappointing performance at the World Cup in Russia. There has not been a comeback since then.

On 1 September 2021, Boateng joined French side Lyon on a free transfer. He signed a contract until 30 June 2023.

If Boateng rounds into form, it would not be shocking to see him called back to Germany in 2022.

ICYMI: Bayern World Squad docuseries (You Tube — FC Bayern)

If you are eager for the next episode of Bayern Munich docuseries on its World Team, here is the trailer:

Nkunku to Madrid? (SPOX)

RB Leipzig star Christopher Nkunku is garnering interest from Real Madrid:

According to Mundo Deportivo Real Madrid, Nkunku is said to have been offered. According to this, representatives of the 23-year-old are said to have already met with those in charge of the royal family to discuss the feasibility of a change.

The famous advisor Pini Zahavi, who represents Nkunku’s interests, is also said to be involved. The 78-year-old Israeli is said to have very good relationships with Real.

For example, Zahavi was involved in the transfer of David Alaba from Bayern Munich to Real this summer. In the past, he also worked intermittently on a possible deal between Robert Lewandowski and Real Madrid. Last Friday, Zahavi was charged, among other things, with suspected money laundering in Belgium.

Nkunku has been loosely linked to Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Manchester City as well.

ICYMI: Bavarian Podcast Works S4E9 (Bavarian Football Works)

Bayern Munich have completed another week of football without any major incidents, well at least if you don’t include the loss to Eintracht Frankfurt. Now, as club football enters another international break, we here at Bavarian Podcast Works take a look at some promised talking points from the last seven days. Full disclosure: this episode was recorded before the Bayern v Frankfurt game, so it doesn’t take that into account.

In this episode, Ineednoname and Samrin discuss:

• The three-man backline, and why both hate it.
• Addressing the classic “Chelsea use it, why can’t Bayern” argument, and why it doesn’t apply.
• Why Benjamin Pavard is a problem (new arguments this time!!!).
• Have Julian Nagelsmann’s Bayern Munich been challenged yet? (It has, but not when we recorded this)
• Small tangent on goalkeepers, including Manuel Neuer, Gregor Kobel, and ter Stegen.
• Who could pose a decent threat to this team.
• Who are the big threats in the Bundesliga this season.
• How Hansi Flick could line up Germany with the return of Thomas Muller.
• A potential new role for Leroy Sane?

So, so true (@TrollFootball)

Sometimes a meme is just dead-on:

Wolfsburg also chasing Pepi (Bild)

According to Bild, Wolfsburg is also chasing FC Dallas striker Ricardo Pepi. Bayern Munich is allegedly interested in the 18-year-old, who has USMNT fans drooling at the possibilities of the squad having a potent, young striker in the mix for years to come.