Daily Schmankerl: The aftermath of Bayern Munich vs. FC Augsburg; Tottenham eyeing Jamie Gittens; Bayern scoped outside-back; Max Eberl’s future in doubt; Kevin De Bruyne leaving Manchester City; Another midfielder on Bayern’s radar; and MORE!

Bayern Munich got the three points it needed…

Die Folgen: Bayern’s 3-1 win over FC Augsburg (Bavarian Football Works)

Bayern Munich picked up the 3-1 victory, but at what cost?

It appears that Jamal Musiala suffered an injury that will likely keep him out of the squad’s match against Inter Milan in the Champions League.

That was truly a killer, but there were positives from the performance — especially considering this was not a starting XI that had played much together (and definitely not with the positions that some players were win). Let’s get into it. Here are some quick hitters on the match:

• As always, let’s start with a look at Vincent Kompany’s starting XI:

• There were very few surprises with the selections. Raphaël Guerreiro, who missed training this week, but was said to be fine, did not start. That gave Josip Stanišić the opportunity to start at left-back. With Leon Goretzka out most of the week and Aleksandar Pavlović still working on a comeback from mono, João Palhinha got the nod in the central midfield. In other not-so-shocking news, Leroy Sané started at left wing over Serge Gnabry.
• It was interesting, though, to see Kompany pick Kim Min-jae once again, even though the big defender has been battling Achilles tendonitis for months and also suffered through a sickness and a back injury last weekend.
• As expected, FC Augsburg brought the energy. For anyone who has not seen FC Augsburg play in a while, you might have been surprised to see how committed Die Fuggerstädter are to defending. With that, Bayern munich had a lot of trouble getting anything going.
• The FC Augsburg press was relentless, especially early on.
• In the 19th minute, Sané was fed a perfect through-ball, but hit the outside of the next while bearing down the left side of the box.
• For as much effort as FC Augsburg was putting out, Bayern Munich was playing very tough and would often recover possession within seconds of losing it.
• Eventually, though, Bayern Munich would crack from expending all of that energy. Off of a free kick, Jeffrey Gouweleeuw sent the ball into Dimitrios Giannoulis and the delivery just evaded the head of a leaping Konrad Laimer. Giannoulis took the touch inside and ripped a shot before Eric Dier could close down on him. Just like that, it was 1-0 in the 30th minute.
• In the 42nd minute, though, Bayern Munich finally broke through when Sané whipped a pass centrally toward Musiala, where the youngster eventually corralled it and fired a shot past FC Augsburg goalkeeper Finn Dahmen (who did actually get a hand on it). While he will likely not be officially credited with an assist, Sané kick-started the play.
• In the 58th minute, FC Augsburg defender Cedric Zesiger was issued a red card (second yellow) for a challenge, which finally gave Bayern Munich some room to breathe. The ensuing free kick saw Kimmich loft a pass to Michael Olise, who was stationed wide on the right side. Olise then whipped in a cross, which found Harry Kane for a 2-0 lead.
• In the 87th minute, we saw an all too familiar sight from Sané. After an FC Augsburg corner was headed away brilliantly by Kimmich toward Gnabry, the winger sent a perfect ball to a streaking Sané, who was all alone going in on the goalkeeper. Sané, though, inexplicably put his shot directly into Dahmen.
• In the first minute of added time, Mergim Berisha returned the favor by getting in by himself and hitting his attempt right at Jonas Urbig. Yikes.
• Thankfully for Sané, he was (partially) able to atone for the miss by helping create Bayern Munich’s third goal in the third minute of added time. That gave Bayern Munich some cushion with a 3-1 lead. It would have been a big boost for Sané to actually get the goal for himself, but it was ruled an own goal.
• Overall, this was a good, but costly, win. FC Augsburg is a legitimate squad and Bayern Munich earned the victory, but the loss of Jamal Musiala could be a killer against Inter Milan in the Champions League. Hopefully Bayern Munich can fight through the multitude of potential distractions that could affect it this week. It would not have been easy before the Musiala injury, but it is time for irrational confidence! Join me on that journey!

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

Also, be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @BavarianPodcast @TheBarrelBlog, @BFWCyler, @2012nonexistent, @TommyAdams71 and more.

Spurs in on Gittens? (GiveMeSport via 90Min.com)

Tottenham Hotspur looks to be in the running for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens:

Meanwhile, Tottenham are eyeing a move for Borussia Dortmund winger Jamie Gittens as part of a huge squad rebuild.

Gittens has been linked to Bayern Munich, but his rumored transfer fee could be an issue.

Bayern’s interest in Huijsen is legit, but it’ll be tough to get him (CaughtOffside)

Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Liverpool could be engaged in a three-way dance for Bournemouth center-back Dean Huijsen:

Liverpool could yet be signing up to take part in a three-way tug-of-war for Dean Huijsen’s signing this summer. Fellow European heavyweights Bayern Munich and Real Madrid are also understood to be interested in the Spain international.

The Merseysiders’ backline is potentially in need of significant investment in the upcoming summer window. Both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Virgil van Dijk’s contracts are set to expire. There also remain question marks over Andy Robertson’s viability as the starting left-back going into the 2025/26 season.

Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk recently commented on Bayern Munich’s rumored interest in the Spain international.

“FC Bayern are currently in negotiations with Dayot Upamecano over a new contract. There are still a few details to be clarified, including whether Upamecano will again have an exit clause (the current sum is €120m),” Falk said. “Bayern would like to keep Upamecano, who is currently injured. However, the club is also looking for alternatives. Eric Dier, for example, is set to receive a new contract until 2026 in the near future. But new defenders are also being monitored.

“Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth is on the list. The central defender has a contract until 2030, but is said to have a release clause of €60m for the summer. Real Madrid are also interested.”

Bavarian Podcast Works — Reaction Show: Report says Bayern Munich has decided to cut ties with Thomas Müller (Bavarian Football Works)

If the latest reports are true, the Thomas Müller Era at Bayern Munich is over.

How do fans feel about it? How should fans feel about it? Is it just the natural course of a career even for a club legend like Müller — or could something have been done to make it a more palatable exit for fans and the player alike?

One thing is for sure — there is a lot to talk about and discuss regarding the career achievements of a player like Müller and why it has all come to this. Who is at fault? Who should be blamed? Let’s talk about all of this and more on this Special Edition of Bavarian Podcast Works.

Eberl in hot water? (Daily Briefing by Christian Falk)

In his Daily Briefing column, Sport Bild journalist Christian Falk did not paint a picture that will leave many feeling confident about the future of board member for sport Max Eberl at Bayern Munich:

FC Bayern is a club like a family business. In Germany, we talk about the “Bayern family”. And this family has a patron: Uli Hoeneß. If Hoeneß, who still has a role on the club’s supervisory board, is not satisfied with the work of an employee, he will soon be history at the club. This was recently the case with Oliver Kahn, who had to leave as CEO. The current word is: Hoeneß is not happy with the work of Max Eberl.

The contract extensions for Alphonso Davies and Jamal Musiala cost a lot of money, with agreements worth hundreds of millions. Joshua Kimmich’s new contract is no less expensive than before. Eberl had clear instructions from the supervisory board that savings had to be made. This is another reason why Thomas Müller (€17m salary) will not receive a new contract. It is therefore striking that there are now rumours that Mario Gomez, technical director of Red Bull, or Ralf Rangnick, coach of Austria, will join FC Bayern in the summer. I’ve heard these rumours for a long time.

And they always say: Uli Hoeneß raves about these two and would like to see them at the club. That’s always a dangerous sign for a sports boss. If Gomez or Rangnick come, it means: Eberl would probably have to go. Max Eberl can’t do much about it. In the end, the only thing that will help him at FC Bayern is titles – preferably in the Champions League. Incidentally, there is also a rumour about Markus Krösche, CEO at Frankfurt.

De Bruyne announces exit from City (@KevinDeBruyne)

After months of speculation, Kevin De Bruyne took to X to announce that he was leaving Manchester City after the season:

De Bruyne has been closely linked to MLS club San Diego FC.

Bayern wanted Aurier, but rules got in the way (Sport Witness)

Bayern Munich was allegedly kicking the tires on free agent outside-back Serge Aurier, but rules got in the way of a deal:

When Serge Aurier left Nottingham Forest last year for Galatasaray, it’s unlikely he thought he’d find himself being linked with Bayern Munich 12 months later. Yet, here we are. Merkur cover the situation today and how an injury crisis at the German giants has led the former Nottingham Forest man to being considered as an option to bolster the squad.

They explain with Dayot Upamecano, Alphonso Davies and Hiroki Ito all joining the likes of Tarek Buchmann, Aleksandar Pavlović and Kingsley Coman in the treatment room, Bayern find themselves short of options. That had led to reports they could enter the free agent market to bolster their squad and one of the prominent names in that is Aurier.

He’s currently looking for a new club after being released by Galatasaray at the beginning of January following a short-lived spell with the Turkish club, who he joined from Nottingham Forest in February last year.

He would be seen as an experienced solution after spells with PSG, Tottenham, Villarreal, Nottingham Forest and Galatasaray rather than a long-term option.

The problem is that the rules in Germany will stop it happening even if Bayern explore it further. Clubs in the country are blocked from signing players outside of the two transfer windows, even if they’re available on a free transfer.

That means Aurier can’t arrive at any point, but the fact he’s found himself linked just a year after leaving Nottingham Forest, where he was hardly inspirational, is something in itself.

Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show Season 4, Episode 37 (Bavarian Football Works)

What a week it has been at Bayern Munich…

There has been massive drama surrounding a legendary player and the club executives, and the team is steamrolling into key match-ups with FC Augsburg and Inter Milan.

Let’s dive into all of it on this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show. This is what we have on tap:

• Why the situations surrounding Thomas Müller and Max Eberl are not only causing consternation with fans, but how they might be showing a greater disconnect between the different factions within the club.
• Are Uli Hoeneß and Karl-Heinz Rummenigge overstaying their welcome — or strategically taking bullets to help the club move forward?
• The most recent transfer rumors include a potential move for goalkeeper Daniel Peretz and also Dayot Upamecano’s expectations for a contract extension might actually end up being too hefty for Bayern Munich to absorb.
• Listener Q&A responses.

Williams to Chelsea? (TBR Football via 90Min.com)

Bayern Munich will have more competition for Athletic Club winger Nico Williams as Chelsea FC is now in the race:

Chelsea have joined the race to sign Athletic Club winger Nico Williams and have made contact with his representatives.

Bayern involved with Santos? (Nottingham Forest News)

Bayern Munich is rumored to be interested in RC Strasbourg Alsace midfielder Andrey Santos:

Arriving on loan from Chelsea, Andrey Santos wasn’t in Steve Cooper’s plans seemingly immediately after setting foot inside the Forest training ground, making the deal bizarre from the off.

In fact, Cooper didn’t know Forest had signed Santos until he showed up to training, which is a remarkable story that has made the Brazilian’s trajectory ever since a source of interest for Reds fans.

According to Calciomercato, Santos is hot property after his excellent season at Strasbourg, attracting the interest of Italian sides Juventus and AC Milan, as well as Champions League quarter-finalists PSG and Bayern Munich.

BVB, Leverkusen chasing Sancho? (GiveMeSport)

Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen are rumored to be thinking about bringing Jadon Sancho back to Germany:

Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen are both exploring a summer move for Jadon Sancho, who could be sold even if he joins Chelsea permanently following his loan from Man Utd.

Sancho’s career has just never taken off since leaving Borussia Dortmund. Maybe a return-trip to Germany is just what he needs.

Bavarian Podcast Works — Special Edition: Thomas Müller’s possible departure from Bayern Munich (Bavarian Football Works)

Thomas Müller, Mr. Bayern Munich, might not be a part of the first team squad for the first time since 2009. Müller commands an international following; the love for him comes from all corners of the world and stretches beyond Bayern. In this episode, some BFW podcasters express their feelings about Müller’s possible departure. In this episode, Chuck, Michael, Jack, Muller_Era and Samrin speak about the Raumdeuter’s possible departure as well as what he means to them personally.

Note: Everyone expressed their views at different points and not everything that has come out about the situation now was known at the time the views were expressed.