Daily Schmankerl: Will Bayern Munich and Florian Wirtz hook up in 2025?; Liverpool’s Darwin Núñez to replace Robert Lewandowski at FC Barcelona?; Virgil van Dijk not headed to Bayern; Real Madrid eyeing AC Milan’s Malick Thiaw; and MORE!

Sky Sport journalist Florian Plettenberg seems pretty sure that Bayern Munich will make a big play for Bayer Leverkusen star Florian Wirtz in the summer of 2025:

FC Bayern want to try to sign Florian #Wirtz in 2025!

➡️ Eberl confirms our news @welt: “When a player like Wirtz is available, we have to consider it. But such a player can also decline.“

At the earliest, next summer Wirtz and his family see Bayern as an intermediate step before a move abroad, which he plans for later.

@SkySportDE

Meanwhile, Eberl spoke to Bild (as captured by @iMiaSanMia) and was asked directly if Bayern Munich can afford a player for more than €100 million like, say, Wirtz.

“FC Bayern have shown last summer by signing an absolute top star in Harry Kane that the club is able to spend such fees, but not every year. When a player of this calibre, like Florian Wirtz, Harry Kane or others, is available and on the market, then we have to consider that. But it’s also possible that the player could reject the move,” said Eberl.

Could FC Barcelona be looking to Liverpool FC’s Darwin Núñez to replace Robert Lewandowski? One report indicates as much:

Barcelona are considering a shock move for Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez as they look to offload Robert Lewandowski and bring in someone on smaller wages.

Bayern Munich traveled to VfB Stuttgart for a Bundesliga match, which was the focus for the weekend, but with a date with Real Madrid in the Champions League on the horizon, things were always going to be dicey for the German Rekordmeister.

Head coach Thomas Tuchel had injuries to account for, worries about wear-and-tear on key players, and just overall how to best keep his team fit for Wednesday’s UCL showdown.

As expected, it was not easy and VfB Stuttgart would come away with a somewhat unlikely 3-1 victory over the Bavarians. There is plenty to discuss, so let’s get down to it on this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works Postgame Show:

• A look at Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI.
• A rundown of the scoring and substitutions.
• If this was an audition for Chris Führich, he did well for himself
• Eric Dier’s toughness has helped adjust the mentality of this squad.
• The fall of Alphonso Davies has been drastic — and we took a blowtorch to him. Listen in, you won’t want to miss it.
• Where things stand heading into Bayern Munich’s Champions League showdown with Real Madrid.

Those oddball rumors linking Liverpool FC center-back Virgil van Dijk to Bayern Munich are not true per Sport Bild’s Christian Falk:

But writing for The Daily Briefing, Falk has asserted that while Bayern remain unsure over who will be managing them next season, a move for the Liverpool skipper is not on the table. The journalist also dismissed suggestions that Van Dijk could join Borussia Dormtund.

“Virgil van Dijk is not a topic up for discussion at Bayern Munich at the moment,” Falk reports. “It’s really, really a problem in the club that it’s hard to discuss players if you don’t already have a coach in place.

“An interesting player for surely every team. If you get a 32-year-old player in who would immediately be the boss of the defence, you have to discuss this with the coach; if there’s no coach to discuss, you can’t make this decision. So, with Bayern Munich (as is also the case with Borussia Dortmund), it’s not hot.”

Real Madrid could be eyeing AC Milan defender Malick Thiaw, who could be a longshot to make Germany’s EURO 2024 roster:

Another German center-back, Malick Thiaw of AC Milan, is of serious interest to Real Madrid.

Yeah, so there is a little bit to talk about with Bayern Munich this week.

I don’t even know we would waste any time with an intro when there is a three-ring circus going on with Bayern Munich’s coaching search, so let’s get right down to business. Here is what we have on tap on for the latest edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show:

• Ralf Rangnick has formally rejected a move to Bayern Munich in favor of keeping his life simple. You can’t fault him for that, but now what?
• After the rejections from Rangnick, Xabi Alonso, and Julian Nagelsmann have all said “No” to Bayern Munich, is Hansi Flick the “break glass in case of emergency option.”
• Sebastian Hoeneß has already stiff-armed speculation that he would be a fit, but could it happen?
• Jonathan Tah to Bayern…eh, I don’t know about this one.
• What to watch for in the next round of Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid in the Champions League.

Didi Hamann thinks that Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso made the right move in not making a move to Liverpool FC.

“No, I think 100% the right call. I think it’s not an easy task to follow Klopp at Liverpool. Obviously, that brings its own dangers with it. This guy was loved. He’s been very successful at the club. I don’t think it’s an easy thing to follow him because it’s a big task to take over from someone like that,” Hamann told Free Bets.

Just a few months a go, Manchester United defender Raphaël Varane was on Bayern Munich’s radar, but that interest cooled. Now, the Frenchman could be available for free during the summer transfer window:

Manchester United are willing to let Raphaël Varane leave on a free transfer when his contract expires this summer.

According to ESPN, Christian Eriksen will also be sent away from the Red Devils this summer as well:

Also on the chopping block at Man Utd is midfielder Christian Eriksen, who could be sold to one of several suitors in Turkey.