Daily Schmankerl: Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, Arsenal eyeing Xavi Simons; Juventus keeping Federico Chiesa?; Manchester United wants Benjamin Šeško?; Aleksandar Pavlović in focus for Julian Nagelsmann; Bayern coach to Leeds United?; and MORE!

FC Barcelona seeks to bring back its former academy product, Xavi Simons, who had a very strong season with RB Leipzig, while on loan from Paris Saint-Germain.

However, Bayern Munich and Arsenal FC are also interested in the Dutchman, which could complicate things for the Catalans:

Heading into the summer transfer window, FC Barcelona have identified PSG wonderkid Xavi Simons as one of their key targets.

The 21-year-old Dutch international, currently on loan at RB Leipzig, is also understood to be keen on a move to Barça, where he spent several years as a part of La Masia, before leaving in 2019. However, PSG’s stance on the future of the versatile attacking midfielder is still not clear while the list of suitors for the talented Dutchman continues to grow.

Now, SPORT has come forward with a report stating that PSG intend to only sell Simons in the summer for a fee of around €60 million or more, which would make things very difficult for Barcelona.

Furthermore, the report states that two other European heavyweights in the form of Arsenal and Bayern Munich have shown interest in Simons. As mentioned earlier, Simons desires to move back to Barcelona, which the report from SPORT also iterates. However, the Dutchman wants a guaranteed starting place either at the Catalan club or at any club that wants to sign him.

Julian Nagelsmann has called up Bayern Munich midfielder Aleksandar Pavlović to germany for the EUROs and gave a hint last week (before the selection was made) on what he thinks of the youngster. A World Cup berth seems likely at this point.

“He is a candidate who can maybe still jump on the train for the Euros. My contract extension puts him even more in focus because we want to build prospects for the World Cup,” Nagelsmann said.

Bayern Munich’s coaching search is STILL grinding forward without a solution and the list of candidates who have rejected the club or who the club has turned away from seems to be growing by the day.

At this stage, the club is grasping at straws, so there is a lot to discuss on that topic alone. Let’s get it to it, this is what we have on tap for this episode of the Bavarians Podcast Works Show:

• Final thoughts on Bayern Munich vs. Wolfsburg.
• Bayern Munich might not be hiring Hansi Flick after all.
• Oliver Glasner rejected Bayern Munich, too? Not totally, Crystal Palace put the kibosh on it.
• Max Eberl seems to desperately want Roberto De Zerbi.
• Bayern Munich could sell off five to seven players this summer, but who? Let’s take a look at who could be a candidate to leave the club in a purge this summer.

Juventus does not seem ready to part ways with Federico Chiesa just yet:

So Bayern Munich have taken another important step to securing second place by beating VfL Wolfsburg 2-0. No Harry Kane on the pitch so no fireworks, but the game did start in a promising manner when Lovro Zvonarek and Leon Goretzka put the Bavarians up 2-0 inside 15 minutes. In the end though, it was just a workmanlike 2-0 with very little in the way of thrills, intensity, or excitement, a characteristic feature of Thomas Tuchel’s reign.

Here are our talking points from the game:

• Reviewing the lineup and the start of the game.
• How Bayern Munich lost the tempo.
• “Saving energy” is not a strategy that has ever worked.
• Why Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich team cannot find a higher gear.
• A short recap of standout individual performances — Thomas Müller, Bryan Zaragoza, Lovro Zvonarek, and Leon Goretzka.

RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Šeško has had a very strong second half of the season and has drawn the attention of several Premier League clubs. That is why it was not all that curious to see his agent take in Manchester United vs. Arsenal FC:

Bayern Munich U-19 coach René Marić is on the radar of Leeds United:

Leeds United are said to be interested in taking back Bayern Munich U19 Rene Maric, former assistant of Jesse Marsch, but the Bavarian giants are looking at agreeing a new deal for him.

The Whites are potentially two games away from promotion back to the Premier League this season with a playoff semi-final second leg on Thursday and a possible trip to Wembley under Daniel Farke.

Farke has coached Leeds to a 90-point season, but saw the club fall short of automatic promotion by a six-point margin.

A report from German outlet Tageszeitung is claiming that Bayern Munich U19 coach Rene Maric is on the Leeds radar this summer.

Maric, 31, was an assistant to Jesse Marsch in the 22/23 season before the American and his backroom team were dismissed in February 2023.

Since then, Maric has impressed while working in the Bavarian giants’ youth setup, to the point where he is also on Sunderland’s radar with their vacancy in the dugout after sacking Mick Beale.

With Bayern Munich’s season essentially over, it is now time for the club to start tying up loose ends for the season — namely hiring a head coach and figuring out what the roster might look like next season.

Clearly, the action is just about to start instead of drawing to a close for the season. Let’s take a look at what subjects we dive into for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show:

• Hansi Flick looks like he is frontrunner for the Bayern Munich job — can he recapture the magic he once had in Bavaria?
• Has Thomas Tuchel permanently damaged the relationships with any players? If so, would Flick be able to salvage them?
• Will it be the end of an era for some players? If so, how would you remember it?
• What is Tuchel’s legacy with the club?
• Where do things stand with Alphonso Davies after his hero turn against Real Madrid?
• Should Bayern Munich blow it all up and start over with a few select returnees?

Manchester United might have to just eat monet to get rid of Erik ten Hag and his coaching staff:

Manchester United will have to pay over £10m if they choose to sack Erik ten Hag and his backroom staff this summer.

Per talkSPORT, Hansi Flick could be taking a close look at the potential opening with Manchester United as well:

Former Bayern Munich and Germany manager Hansi Flick has expressed an interest in replacing Ten Hag at Man Utd.

After helping ruin Bayern Munich’s season, Joselu might have earned another year with Real Madrid:

Real Madrid are ready to offer a one-year contract to on-loan forward Joselu, whose loan from Espanyol includes the option for a permanent transfer.

Bayern Munich traveled to Spain with a lot of hope, but played like it was hopeless for much of the match.

After Bayern Munich had taken a 1-0 lead, the squad collapsed in the worst possible way.

It was heartbreaking, dramatic, and altogether shocking. Bayern Munich eventually lost 2-1 (4-3 on aggregate), so let’s just get to it (and maybe put on “Taps” in the background):

• A look at Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI and how the changes impacted the team’s performance.
• A rundown of the scoring and substitutions, including yet another injury for Serge Gnabry.
• Bayern Munich stunningly poor play eventually caught up to it.
• Alphonso Davies made his way from “zero to hero” — at least temporarily.
• How the Real Madrid Mystique came into effect once again as Bayern Munich was not just hosed once, but twice!
• Are you still reeling from the second Real Madrid goal? We are.