The Bayern Insider: Bayern closing in on Saibari as Rashford transfer truth emerges

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The Bayern Insider: Bayern closing in on Saibari as Rashford transfer truth emerges

Welcome to today’s exclusive & comprehensive round-up of all things Bayern Munich from Bayern insider Christian Falk. Featuring updates on Ismael Saibari, Harry Kane, Ayyoub Bouaddi, and Marcus Rashford.

Today’s top stories​

• Could Ayyoub Bouaddi be next up on Bayern Munich’s transfer plan?
• Trouble in paradise with Harry Kane’s contract talks?
• Are Bayern eyeing up another Liverpool attacker after failed Rio Ngumoha move?
• And plenty more on Michael Olise, Yann Bisseck, Konrad Laimer & Min-jae Kim

Further incomings beyond Nathaniel Brown and Ismael Saibari​

I think, at the moment, Ismael Saibari and Nathaniel Brown are on the way! There are already rumours that Saibari had his medical here in the USA in his camp. Brown, also, wouldn’t be an issue, as the Bayern doctor also works for the German national team, so that’s very easy. If they do sign, or if they have signed (it may already be done, and they’ll officially announce it later), it’s a market in which Bayern can still spend. But they do want to sell. I got a call from agents asking if Bayern Munich will do something at right-back and at centre-back. I always tell them the same thing I report on in these columns: Max Eberl has to sell. There are things in the air; Jonah Kusi-Asare (18), who was on loan with Fulham, has been the subject of an offer (€3m [£2.6m]) from the London-based club. This isn’t enough for FC Bayern. I think there will be another offer. But you can see that they need money, because they want to keep active in the market.

Saibari is not a player everyone at the club knew intimately to begin with. However, Vincent Kompany really likes him, and Bayern trust the Belgian’s opinion in this matter. He’s certainly built up a lot of goodwill with two remarkable seasons in Munich, and he’s been working on the deal for quite a while now. I exclusively mentioned before that the 40-year-old was the man who pushed for it after the clash with PSV in the Champions League in Eindhoven. There, he already spoke about a future in Munich and how the Moroccan would fit Bayern’s style of play.

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It’s worth pointing out that Ismael Saibari hasn’t had the easiest career over in the Netherlands. Roger Schmidt, a German head coach, didn’t give the forward a great deal of playing time while he was at PSV. So, you seen, he’s not everyone’s darling! But now he’s playing under Peter Bosz. A key point in his career came courtesy of Ruud van Nistelrooy, who also coached and developed Saibari at PSV. He’s still the man for the Moroccan, so to speak; if Ismael Saibari has a question he needs answering, he still calls his mentor, Ruud, for some advice. I think that’s a big thing. If Van Nistelrooy thinks he’s a good guy, then I think Kompany can be very happy about the player.

Christoph Freund on Bayern wanting to “improve in the details”​

Bayern Munich don’t want to spend as much money as they did in the past. With that in mind, they’ve developed players; they’ve developed young players. This will likewise inform their efforts in the market, as they want to sign young players. This is the job Bayern’s sporting director, Christoph Freund, has been tasked with. He’s sort of the secret head of the campus (while, technically, on paper, it is Max Eberl). Freund is more than familiar with this line of work, of course, having previously fulfilled this job with RB Salzburg. He’s very good at it.

Freund has a name in mind to add to the campus, which sounds amazing: a “Baby Haaland” by the name of Aron Vucic at Slovenian outfit FC Koper. He’s not an exact replica of Haaland, but you can see why the comparisons have been made when you see this guy! He’s big, he’s tall, he has long hair, and he moves a little like Haaland. Most critically of all – he’s scoring goals! Bayern Munich, of course, missed out on Erling Haaland despite multiple attempts. But perhaps they’ll get Baby Haaland!

Contact with Marcus Rashford​

It is NOT TRUE: A Bayern bid for Marcus Rashford is imminent. But Fabrizio Romano’s information on the subject is, of course, true. There was some contact after Anthony Gordon said no to Bayern Munich and decided to move to Barcelona. They had to make a few calls, and they have a long list of players they like. Rashford’s name carries a certain pedigree, and he had a very good loan spell in La Liga. However, if the deal with Saibari works out, they’re not going to move for the Manchester United attacker. There’s also a question around the potential salary, as Bayern are currently forking out a lot of money on their wage bill – too much, in the eyes of the supervisory board. So you’re not going to make a deal with the England international if the idea is to lower the wage bill. It’s normal for Bayern to make a few calls from their shortlist, and Rashford remains a topic at the club, but he’s not the number one topic.

I heard that Manchester United have an idea to stick with him ahead of the new season, as Michael Carrick is said to want to work with the 28-year-old. I met Carrick at the Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year awards at the Landmark Hotel. I think he makes a very good impression; he’s a very straightforward kind of guy, and I think he could work with Rashford to get him back to his best.

Bayern’s contract plans for Michael Olise​

Bayern want to nearly double Michael Olise’s wages in Munich as part of a deal to keep him at the club until 2031. You’ve heard the saying, if in trouble, make it double. The trouble is from Real Madrid – they really want him, and they’re fully aware of just how good he was in the Bundesliga this season. He was the player of the year in Germany and has enjoyed a remarkable transformation since his €50m move from Crystal Palace. It wasn’t a €100m deal like Harry Kane’s, which is why his salary isn’t up to par with the likes of the Englishman or Jamal Musiala. He’s right in the middle of the squad’s earners, so about €15m. Now, of course, he’s one of the most important players in the first XI, so he deserves more money. That’s why FC Bayern are prepared to give Michael Olise more money, and their argument is that if they’re prepared to offer more money, perhaps the France international can give them a few more years on the contract. In Germany, you can make a deal up to five years long, so the idea would be a contract until 2031. With that in mind, he can get closer to the top earners at Bayern Munich at around €25m a year.

Difficulties over Harry Kane’s contract​

It is NOT TRUE: Bayern Munich are encountering difficulties in contract talks with Harry Kane. At the moment, there are no talks. Kane, the eternal sportsman, is desperate to win the World Cup with England (which is not good news for Germany!). Two great goals from him against Croatia, by the way! First, Bayern wanted to talk with the England skipper, and he held off on talks because he wanted to win the Bundesliga. Then they asked again, and he asked them to hold off in order to focus on the DFB Pokal. There was also a dream of winning the Champions League, which further contributed to this situation. And now, we have the same (mini) problem again with the World Cup! And don’t get things twisted – it is a mini problem. Harry Kane has made it very clear that he loves Bayern Munich and wants to stay at the club. He’s in no rush. Talks can happen after the World Cup, ideally, for Kane, after he’s helped Thomas Tuchel’s side win it.

I really loved what Harry Kane had to say about Tuchel. He’s not an easy man to work with, but he is brilliant. Kane said the German made such a good speech at half-time in the dressing room against Croatia. Thomas Tuchel made it absolutely clear that when England are losing, they’re losing in their way. That’s Tuchel for “we want to win in the right way!” Ultimately, it appears that he found the right words, and England went on to win convincingly in Dallas. Kane is helping Tuchel navigate life as a German coach in an English dressing room. That may work at Liverpool, but not always with the national team! He needs a little help, which is why it’s so good that he has a partnership with Harry Kane.

Konrad Laimer’s contract is coming​

It is TRUE: There have been talks with Konrad Laimer. There will soon be a new deal for the Austria international. Ahead of the World Cup, I mentioned that there was a secret meeting with the Bayern bosses, and the initial idea was that Laimer could be offered €1m more on his current terms. But now the idea is that up to €12m [£10.4m] could be the range. Once add-ons are taken into account, it could be a little more, but not as much as his entourage were looking for in the first round of talks. If he’s playing well, as he has done this season, he deserves to earn a bit more.

Could Ayyoub Bouaddi be of interest?​

It is TRUE: Bayern are looking at players of a similar profile to Ayyoub Bouaddi. That’s Christoph Freund’s job. I heard it’s not so hot with Bouaddi, in particular, as the position in midfield is full. You have Noël Aséko, who’s coming back from his loan spell with Hannover. Vincent Kompany had a phone call with the 20-year-old and told him that he wants to see the midfielder in pre-season. Then, there will be a decision made at the end of August as to whether the midfielder is suitable for this squad. There’s also Joshua Kimmich, Aleksandar Pavlović, and Laimer, who can play there. If Bouaddi is cheap, then perhaps it’s an option. But I don’t think he’s going to be so cheap that Bayern will make a deal without selling players first.

Min-jae Kim’s future in the summer transfer window​

It is TRUE: Min-jae Kim is on the list at Manchester United. However, I heard that a deal is hotter with Juventus in Italy. That said, it’s not certain that the South Korea international will even leave Bayern Munich, as he’s enjoying his role at the club. Let’s see what happens with Juventus; then perhaps talks will open with United if things don’t work out with the Serie A outfit.

Tomás Araújo or Yann Bisseck?​

Bayern Munich’s preference is to always go for the German guy where applicable. They love having German players in the squad. They want to be the German Bavarian national team! They have a sign from Yann Bisseck’s side that he would love to play for Bayern in the future. FC Bayern already made a call to Inter Milan to ask about the potential fee. So, you see, there is something in the air, but they have to first sell. So let’s see what happens with Min-jae Kim first.

Do Bayern want to sign Liverpool youth striker Vincent Joseph?​

To be honest, I don’t yet have feedback from Bayern Munich as to how concrete their interest in Vincent Joseph is. I would think this would be fine for the club – I’m personally fine with Bayern welcoming Liverpool talents to Munich! But the last try for Rio Ngumoha wasn’t so successful, of course, so I’m not sure whether a further effort will be made to bring in Joseph. Perhaps one to keep an eye on.

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