Daily Schmankerl: The aftermath of Bayern Munich vs. Hertha Berlin; Manchester City wants Robert Lewandowski, Erling Haaland, or Dusan Vlahovic; Bayern eyeing Donny van de beek?; Juventus is eyeing Eden Hazard; and MORE!

Die Folgen: Bayern’s 5-0 win over Hertha (Bavarian Football Works)

As a (sometimes) wise man said on the Bavarian Podcast Works Preview Show, Hertha Berlin was catching Bayern Munich at the wrong time.

And boy did they ever.

The Bavarians dominated from start to finish and thanks to a lethal starting XI, Julian Nagelsmann’s squad got out to an early lead and never had to look back. Here are some quick hitters on the match:

• I’m not going to belabor this anyone more than I already have, but Jamal Musiala is the best wing on the team and should start every game. The kid is a player and he needs to start anytime he can.
• Did we just witness Leroy Sane become Wally Pipp?
• Sane did enter the game and make a positive impact by registering an assist. Still — to me — Musiala is the clear choice moving forward.
• I called for Thomas Müller be more assertive offensively and he answered the (fictional) bell. Bayern Munich is simply better when Müller remembers the team is even more dangerous when he is goal hungry.
• The work between Musiala, Alphonso Davies, Robert Lewandowski, and Müller on the Raumdeuter’s goal. It was just a fantastic team effort.
• Bayern Munich’s pressing was awesome. They created so much havoc for Hertha Berlin.
• Niklas Süle and Dayot Upamecano had some iffy moments early on, but Süle went on to have a strong game, while Upamecano left early to get some rest.
• Lewandowski is just unstoppable. What an effort on his first goal, but all three were the product of his sheer will to score.
• Lewandowski was also just excellent with his playmaking.
• Tanguy Nianzou is still too sloppy with his positioning and his challenges. For the game, though, Nianzou had more positives than negatives.
• Davies was very good...and looked very comfortable working with Musiala. What if those two get completely aligned...yikes!
• Josip Stanisic was impressive once again as well.
• I did not love the work of Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka on the day. They can be a lot better...and I expect them to be.
• Manuel Neuer getting a clean sheet was great to see.
• Overall, that was a really impressive effort from Bayern Munich to say the least.

If you missed our Initial Analysis, Match Awards, Observations, or Postgame Podcast, give them a look or a listen:

City to push hard on Lewandowski (Ian McGarry via This is Futbol)

Could Manchester City be on the verge of a big push for Lewandowski? Ian McGarry thinks so:

Manchester City have been looking for a striker all summer following the departure of Sergio Aguero, and have seen attempts to bring in Harry Kane seemingly fall flat earlier this week. After it was recently reported that Lewandowski has apparently told the German club that he wants to leave, McGarry had this to say about the possibility of him moving to Pep Guardiola’s side this summer.

He said: “Robert Lewandowski’s decision that he would like to seek a new challenge in football has interested Manchester City. Of course, Pep Guardiola worked with Lewandowski at Bayern Munich for three years. There still, even with people close to the deal, remains the expectation that Lewandowski is hopeful that the leverage of him wanting to leave will lead Bayern to offer him a lucrative contract extension.

“However, Manchester City are exploring the possibility and the option of Lewandowski because Guardiola is determined to recruit a proven goalscorer and someone who will give them an edge in terms of point strike, rather than depending on false nine or Gabriel Jesus to lead the line for City this season as they look, once again, to win the Premier League.”

In fact, Lewy is one of three options for City (Transfer Market Web)

Lewandowski, however, is just one of three options City is going to consider. Borussia Dortmund’s Erling Haaland and Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic are also allegedly on Manchester City’s radar:

There are only three players who could complete Pep Guardiola’s squad and occupy the spearhead of the citizen attack:

- Erling Haaland: the option that you like the most and, logically, the most complicated. Borussia Dortmund do not want to lose their best footballer the same summer that they released Jadon Sancho. But the past of the Norwegian’s father at the Etihad Stadium brings him closer to being that nine that completes one of the best teams in the world.

- Robert Lewandowski: it would not be the first time that the Polish striker has made a call to leave Bayern Munich. Faced with so much seniority, from Bavaria they are considering the possibility of getting money from him before it is too late. But yes, he is still one of the best forwards in the world. An insulting scorer who could be the chosen one.

-Dusan Vlahovic: the Serbian striker is aware that he will leave ACF Fiorentina and the viola box has put a price on him, so it could be the option chosen by a Manchester City that wants to add young and high quality talent, such as Dusan Vlahovic.

Nagelsmann wants Van de Beek? (Fichajes)

Per Fichajes (we know, we know), Nagelsmann wants Bayern Munch to target Manchester United midfielder Donny van de Beek:

After costing nothing more and nothing less than 40 million euros, Donny van de Beek could have numbered his days as a Manchester United footballer a year after his arrival at Old Trafford from Ajax Amsterdam — which could be the Bundesliga and more specifically the Bayern Munich the new destination in the career of Dutch midfielder of 24 years.

And it is that Julian Nagelsmann, coach of the Bavarian team, would has put the name of Van de Beek on the table to reinforce the Bayern Munich midfield, in which there would be exits such as that of the Frenchman Corentin Tolisso, which would help make room in the core of the German champion, who would be covered with the Dutch player, who despite being an express request from the Norwegian coach Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has never fully trusted him to play a leading role in Manchester United.

ICYMI: The Weekend Warm-up Podcast (Bavarian Football Works)

There was no shortage of news surrounding Bayern Munich this week as the club had an active week in the media.

Whether it was Joshua Kimmich’s contract extension going official, ongoing transfer news, two games, and the Champions League, there is plenty to discuss. Here is what we have on tap:

• What Kimmich’s deal means moving forward.
• Bayern Munich’s performance against FC Köln and Bremer SV.
• The latest on Marcel Sabitzer and Jonas Hofmann.
• The juicy Champions League match-ups.

Juventus eyeing Hazard? (Transfermarket)

With Cristiano Ronaldo off to Manchester United, Juventus might be seeking to add some star power in the form of Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard:

How will Juventus react to losing Cristiano Ronaldo just days before the transfer window closes? The rumors about a potential replacement for the forward who will join Manchester United have now uncovered a new name. Marca reported on Friday that Bianconeri want to sign Real Madrid’s Eden Hazard.

Juventus are under pressure to find a replacement, and the 30-year-old Belgian, who never fully convinced at Real Madrid after joining the club in 2019, is at the very top of their list. Two years ago, Los Blancos paid €115 million to sign Hazard from Chelsea. But the midfielder managed just five goals and nine assists in 45 games. Ankle problems and COVID added to the difficulties. His market value has fallen from €150 million to €40 million.