This article was initially published on Fabrizio Romano’s Daily Briefing, a subscription service. If you would like to receive exclusive articles from Fabrizio Romano via email before they are published on caughtoffside.com, please sign up for the service at thedailybriefing.io.
Today’s exclusive transfer round-up from Bundesliga insider Christian Falk, featuring Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Borussia Dortmund, Manchester United, and more.
The Bundesliga has been traditionally referred to as the “Farmer’s League” in England. However, times have changed! The Bundesliga now serves as a “rehabilitation league” for players who have struggled in the Premier League. German fans and managers alike can rejoice as the league not only regains quality but also generates profits. The prime example of this is Jadon Sancho. Additionally, there are several intriguing transfer developments that impact both the Bundesliga and the Premier League.
There are rumors that Manchester United and possibly Liverpool FC are considering Christoph Freund as a potential sporting director. However, it’s worth noting that FC Bayern’s new sports director recently joined from Red Bull Salzburg. He had previously rejected an offer from Chelsea. For those unfamiliar with the distance between Munich and Salzburg, it’s just an hour and a half drive on the highway. Freund’s family still resides in Salzburg, and he is content with his position at a top international club that is not far from his loved ones. Consequently, he has no interest in the current speculation from England.
Liverpool FC may have better luck with a player from FC Bayern. Leroy Sané is aware that he is on the Reds’ radar if Mohamed Salah departs for Saudi Arabia. Sané’s contract in Munich runs until 2025, and his future remains uncertain. He recently changed his management, indicating a potential transfer in the summer. However, it has been rumored that Liverpool may not be willing to sell their star player to Saudi Arabia, despite lucrative offers from Al Hilal. Liverpool purchased Salah from Roma in 2017 for a mere £42m, and he has more than justified his price tag. From Liverpool’s perspective, they may be willing to let Salah leave for free in 2025 if he does not extend his contract.
There was bitter disappointment for Liverpool as Kylian Mbappé reportedly considered a move to the club. Working with Jürgen Klopp was said to be a major appeal for the French star. However, with Klopp’s departure, this argument no longer holds weight. As a result, Liverpool is likely out of the running for Mbappé.
Hansi Flick is already learning Spanish as he has his sights set on the Barcelona job. His chances may increase if Brighton demands a fee for Roberto de Zerbi, similar to what they did with Graham Potter. Chelsea paid €17.4m in that instance, which may prove to be a significant sum for Barcelona given their current financial situation. Flick would be available as a free agent.
Jadon Sancho has already made a significant impact at Dortmund after just a few weeks. When he was absent from the squad due to muscle problems, Dortmund suffered a disappointing 0-0 draw. The Dortmund management is hopeful of keeping Sancho beyond his loan spell until next season. However, they face a challenge due to Manchester United’s high transfer expectations, rumored to be between £40-50m. Dortmund is relying on Sancho to put pressure on United, with the belief that if he wants to be sold, he would choose Dortmund as his destination. This tactic could potentially lower Manchester United’s asking price. This approach has already worked with the loan deal, which was very affordable for Dortmund at €3-4m, including salary. However, there is a catch. Sancho would need to accept a lower salary at Dortmund, with reports suggesting he would earn less than half of what he currently earns at Manchester United.
Giovanni Reyna could play a crucial role in Sancho’s potential transfer. The attacking player was loaned to Nottingham due to the absence of any purchase offers. As a result, his contract was extended until 2026, and Dortmund plans to sell him in the summer. The income generated from Reyna’s sale would aid in financing the Sancho deal.
The situation with Ian Maatsen is even more complex. The purchase clause of €35m in his Chelsea contract is too expensive for Dortmund. If Maatsen continues to impress in Dortmund until the summer, the club will attempt to negotiate a more affordable deal with Chelsea. Dortmund hopes that Chelsea will be open to accommodating a transfer.
Eintracht Frankfurt is also hoping to make a good deal with Donny van de Beek. Manchester United paid €39m to Ajax Amsterdam in 2022 for his transfer. Thanks to a purchase clause, Frankfurt should be able to acquire van de Beek for just €10-15m in the summer. However, van de Beek would need to accept a lower salary. The highest earners at Frankfurt, Kevin Trapp and Mario Götze, earn up to €3.5m gross per year, which is only half of what van de Beek currently earns at Manchester United.
A recent decision indicates that van de Beek is not indispensable at Frankfurt. He was not included in the 24-man squad for the Conference League. The new strikers Sasa Kalajdzic and Hugo Ekitiké, as well as left-back Philipp Max, were deemed more important by coach Dino Topmöller. Van de Beek showed promise in his first three appearances for Eintracht, but it was not enough to secure a regular spot in the squad. The extended break in play during his time at Manchester United appears to have had an impact on his form.
VfB Stuttgart can be pleased with their loan deal from Brighton & Hove Albion. Deniz Undav is currently the top German goalscorer in the Bundesliga with 13 goals. Stuttgart has the option to purchase him in the summer for a base sum of €12m. Further details regarding additional clauses are yet to be known. During an interview with Undav, he expressed his contentment with Stuttgart and his desire to stay.
Undav’s goals could potentially secure Stuttgart a spot in international competitions, bringing in much-needed revenue. He attributes his breakthrough to Roberto de Zerbi, as he was unsure of what he was doing wrong during his time at Brighton. Undav approached the manager’s office, where De Zerbi passionately expressed his dissatisfaction for half an hour. This encounter provided Undav with clarity on what he needed to change. He remains grateful to his former coach for this outburst.
According to the Source caughtoffside.com