🚨 Christian Falk's Fact Files - Arsenal & Man City sent Wirtz warning, Liverpool & Merlin Rohl latest, Alisson exit? Sesko 'perfect' for Premier League and more

Today's exclusive transfer round-up from Bundesliga insider Christian Falk, featuring Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Newcastle United, Frankfurt and more

[From left to right: Merlin Röhl, Xabi Alonso and Florian Wirtz, and Omar Marmoush]

🎧 LISTEN to the Debrief here!

Today’s top stories

• Could Liverpool complete a move for Freiburg midfielder Merlin Röhl?

• What’s the state of play with Manchester City and Arsenal target Florian Wirtz?

• Can West Ham seal the signing of the Bundesliga’s in-form striker in January?

• And further updates on Alisson Becker, Benjamin Šeško, Leroy Sané and more!

BAYERN MUNICH

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

I saw Hiroki Ito at the stadium on Saturday; he was walking well already but his role in the squad is definitely still as a backup centre-back. I heard that Vincent Kompany made Kim Min-jae and Dayot Upamecano feel very supported in an internal discussion. He said he trusts them implicitly, will improve them and offered assurances over playing time. So, you see, it won’t get very easy for Ito and he won’t be getting in on the left side of defence either, as Alphonso Davies is playing very well at the moment. We also need to consider that Raphaël Guerreiro is in very good shape.

The first round of contract talks with Jamal Musiala went very well. Bayern Munich were discussing his role at the club, and they want the 21-year-old to be their No.10 on the pitch (but not on the back of his shirt, as this remains Leroy Sané’s number). We don’t yet know if Sané is staying. I’m sure that if Leroy Sané does end up moving to another club, Musiala will also get the number too on his shirt. So, you see things are already being discussed behind the scenes. They were very impressed with what he mentioned about the squad; he’s very happy that Michael Olise is there as the Frenchman is a “baller”, just like him. He would love to see more “ballers” in this Bayern Munich team - like Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz. Now, the next point up for debate is the salary.

Bayern didn’t discuss the financials in the first round of negotiations but they are working on an offer right now. Everyone is expecting a ‘2’ before the millions that will be on offer. Leroy Sané and Joshua Kimmich are earning €20m-a-year, Harry Kane is earning €24m-a-year, so Musiala’s team are expecting to see him also reach this level of compensation. A lower offer wouldn’t be the best idea given that there are so many clubs interested in him. Now, everything is focused on how much money Bayern will put on the table. It’s not that he wants to be the top earner at the club, but if they’re now telling him that he’ll be the most important player and that he’ll be the next Thomas Müller, then you can understand Musiala’s camp also wanting to see that reflected in his salary. Perhaps, if it’s the right offer, Bayern Munich can move quickly on this front and get a decision before the year is out.