🚨 Christian Falk's Fact Files - Could Man Utd replace Dan Ashworth with Ralf Rangnick?
Today's exclusive transfer round-up from Bundesliga insider Christian Falk, featuring Bayern Munich, Manchester United, Liverpool, RB Leipzig and more
[From left to right: Christian Falk, Jamal Musiala & Jeremie Frimpong]
Today’s top stories
Do Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City still have a chance of signing Jamal Musiala?
Real Madrid gain significant boost to hopes of signing Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz…
And further updates on Leroy Sane, Xavi Simons, Ralf Rangnick and more!
BAYERN MUNICH
❌Not True: That Bayern Munich want to sign Loris Karius. The situation at Bayern is a little complicated. Manuel Neuer is injured (broken rib) at the moment. So, there are big discussions as to what they’ll do. Now, they’ve decided they won’t go for a new goalkeeper in January - which is bad news for former Liverpool goalkeeper Karius, who was previously linked. He’s out. Daniel Peretz is doing very well now and everyone in the club, especially the player himself, sees that he needs playing time, as he’s only the backup for Neuer. Bayern want to arrange a loan during the summer transfer window in order to ensure he’s getting first-team minutes. With that in mind, they’ll need a new backup ‘keeper for Neuer. Which is why they’ve had a look at Brighton’s Bart Verbruggen who’s very highly rated on the shortlist. There were ideas of getting Giorgi Mamardashvili as a new No.1, but Liverpool were simply quicker to the punch here. Now Bayern have decided they need a good goalkeeper behind Neuer because of his injury. Perhaps they need one who can also become a No.1. Manuel Neuer will sign a new contract until 2026 (but this isn’t official yet), so they want a goalkeeper on a good level, if he has to play, as Neuer is getting older. Don’t think of it as a No.2 goalkeeper but a No.1(a).
True✅: That Bayern are due for a second round of talks with Jamal Musiala over a contract and salary offer. I heard there was a meeting in September to discuss a contract extension for Musiala. They just talked about the future, what the team could be, what he wanted, and that he should be the face of the team (and a No.10). However, they didn’t discuss money. Now, ahead of Christmas, there will be the second round of talks and this time, Bayern will offer him numbers. The negotiations haven’t been about money until this point. Musiala is expecting a salary of over €20m (gross per year). The question is whether or not he’ll be the top earner at the club. At the moment, it’s Harry Kane (on over €20m and everyone expects he can earn up to €24m with add-ons). If Jamal Musiala accepts this offer, things can progress very quickly. He’d be off the market with no chance for the likes of Manchester City, Manchester United or Liverpool. Bayern will do everything in their power to ensure he signs a new contract.
True✅: That Alphonso Davies won’t make a decision on a new contract with Bayern before the new year. It was planned around the match with PSG that Davies’ agent, Nick Huoseh, would fly in for talks, but he cancelled. There was then just a video meeting, but Max Eberl, the head of sport at Bayern, didn’t take part. I heard Huoseh was a little irritated at Eberl’s no-show. Bayern are nonetheless very optimistic that Davies will now sign a new contract, as he would like to stay. However, the latest development on the agent side is that Nick Huoseh is very angry, and now I heard they want to wait until January for the next talks because they have arranged meetings with Manchester United and Real Madrid to hear out their offers. From January 1, they’re free to officially begin talks with other clubs over a pre-contract agreement. Davies is injured at the moment, so there’s no hurry for them to make a decision now. Bayern is naturally putting pressure on the player and his entourage to sign before January 1, but it seems that a decision won’t take place ahead of the new year. Real Madrid are not offering so much more than Bayern Munich at the moment, so there’s an opening for United here.
True✅: That Bayern are working on a deal for Tom Bischof whose contract expires in the summer of 2025. RB Leipzig and Frankfurt are also interested, so I think Bayern are applying a lot of pressure to complete this move. He would be perfect for the midfield, but of course the other clubs can perhaps offer more playing time. You have to have him on the list for the future; he could be important for Germany and he’s a talent. Would he like to play? Or would he like to have the challenge at Bayern Munich?
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
True✅: That Florian Wirtz now has Toni Kroos’ agent on his team. Florian Wirtz signed a new contract with Pepsi - he’s now one of the successors of Lionel Messi. The interesting point to make here is that, normally, his agent is his father, Hans-Joachim Wirtz. However as part of the merchandising deal, they put Volker Struth on the team. This is the agent of Kroos - so you see, if you want a transfer to Real Madrid, it isn’t a bad idea to have him onboard. I also still think there’s a big chance for Manchester City, as Pep Guardiola signed a new contract until 2026. Bayern Munich are also doing everything they can to get this player. Nonetheless, you see that now it has become a three-way race between these clubs to sign him next year.
💬 Where will Florian Wirtz end up this summer?
❌Not True: That there’s an agreement with Barcelona for Jonathan Tah. Bayern Munich are still in the race for the defender and Max Eberl would like to have him as a player. At the end of the prior summer, he almost came to Munich but Leverkusen wanted €25m whilst Bayern offered €20m. He’ll be a free agent in the summer, which of course is an interesting prospect for Barcelona. At the moment, it seems to be a race between Bayern Munich and Barcelona, whilst Real Madrid are behind at the moment.
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