Daily Schmankerl: Bayern Munich hopes loaners bring back loot; Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United chasing Dayot Upamecano; A return to Die Mannschaft for Kevin Volland?; and MORE!

Bayern hope loaned out players bring back purchase fees (Sport1)

Bayern Munich has taken a different strategy this season in loaning out some of its top-rated prospects. The goals for each loan are starkly different, however. Sport1 broke down what the Bavarians are looking for from each loan assignment:

• Michaël Cuisance (Olympique Marseille): Bayern Munich is hoping like crazy that Olympique Marseille will activate the purchase option on the #StepOverKing, but that seems a bit unlikely after André Villas-Boas resigned from his managerial post. At €18 million, a sale of Cuisance — who reportedly does not have a future in Bavaria — seems like the best possible outcome for Bayern Munich, but now also appears to be a longshot.
• Joshua Zirkzee (Parma): Similar to Cuisance, it appears Bayern Munich would love Zirkzee to perform well enough that Parma will pony up the reported €15 million it would take to activate the purchase option. In this financial climate, that does not seem like sure thing.
• Lars Lukas Mai (Darmstadt): Mai is absolutely killing it in 2. Bundesliga, but his future is in doubt with Bayern Munich based on the pure volume of defenders and the rumored transfer targets that the Bavarians would like to bring in. At this point, it can be assumed that Bayern Munich will be looking to sell Mai as well, with Lazio being interested. There is no purchase option on Mai’s loan deal, so Mai will likely at least return temporarily to Bavaria or could even take residence with Bayern Munich II again if a viable suitor can’t be found.
• Leon Dajaku (Union Berlin): There is a €2.5 million purchase option in Dajaku’s loan deal, but Bayern Munich also reportedly has a €4 to €5 million buy-back clause. The feeling here is that if Union Berlin wants Dajaku, Bayern Munich might try to negotiate a bit, but won’t full stand in the way of a move.

As we wrote yesterday, Sport1 noted that Chris Richards (Hoffenheim) is expected to be a part of Bayern Munich’s future and will head back to Bavaria after six months.

“When it comes to loan players, it’s important that they play. With Zirkzee and Richards, two have changed, both of which I would have liked to keep,” said Flick (as captured by Tz). “But it’s good for both of them to develop because they have more chances to play there. But even there they have to perform well. But in terms of potential, a lot of the players we have loaned are in a position to gain a foothold at Bayern Munich.”

Summary: It is very possible that all of these players end up back at Bayern Munich in July. With finances in the footballing world so unstable, €18 million for Cuisance or €15 million for Zirkzee might just be too much for some clubs to handle. It could get really crowded once again on Säbener Straße, which might call for a “Brazzo Fire Sale” if the roster gets too big.

Upamecano has some heavy hitters chasing him (Sky Sports)

Bayern Munich looks to be in the driver’s seat in its pursuit of Dayot Upamecano, but the RB Leipzig defender has some very deep-pocketed clubs from England chasing him as well. Manchester United, Liverpool, and Chelsea are all allegedly hoarding their cash in an effort to splurge on Upamecano this summer:

Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United did not splash the cash on big-money defensive reinforcements in January because they are all waiting to sign Dayot Upamecano from RB Leipzig this summer, according to the Daily Mirror.

Premier League champions Liverpool completed the relatively modest signings of Ben Davies and Ozan Kabak on Deadline Day but Chelsea and United did not enter the market.

The Premier League trio are said to be preparing for the activation of Upamecano’s £38million release clause this summer, though they face competition from European champions Bayern Munich.

German outlet calls for Volland inclusion in Die Mannschaft (Tz)

Tz is ready for AS Monaco’s Kevin Volland to be included in the squad for Germany:

Kevin Volland already wore the eagle on his chest, between 2014 and 2016 as the center forward played ten games for the national team, scoring one goal. Despite his strong performance for Bayer Leverkusen, the Marktoberdorfer was no longer invited to the DFB team. After moving to AS Monaco in the summer, the 28-year-old took another step in his development and is currently one of the most important components in the offensive game of ex-Bayern coach Niko Kovac.

Volland and his team are currently fourth in Ligue 1 and the Monegasque could win the last five games. One of the reasons for this is the former 1860 striker’s eye for goals, as Volland has already scored 11 goals in his 20 league games for his new club and submitted seven more goals. With 18 scorer points he is second in the league, only PSG star Kylian Mbappé was involved in several goals.

I mean...it’s not a terrible idea. Timo Werner and Lucas Waldschmidt are currently the best options for Germany (well, the best options that will be considered). Thomas Müller would be a great selection as well, but, ah, well...you know.

Thauvin to Serie A or will Leverkusen jump in (Transfer Market Web)

AC Milan will reportedly make a strong push to sign Olympique Marseille’s Florian Thauvin, but Bayer Leverkusen could also make a run at the 28-year-old:

Ended up staying put at Olympique de Marseille, 28-year old French attacking midfielder/winger Florian Thauvin is meant to part ways with Ligue 1 struggling giants once current season’s over, on a free move. To this end, AC Milan management are still reaching out to his signing, deeming him one of their main aims. Former Newcastle and Lille playmaker is still tracked by Bayer Leverkusen as well.