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FC Bayern could have competition for Nico Schlotterbeck.

Gnabry extension expected any day now (Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg via @iMiaSanMia_GER)

Bayern Munich and attacker Serge Gnabry are reportedly getting very close on an agreement for a contract extension. In fact, Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg is expecting a deal done “by next week at the latest”:

If everything goes as discussed between all parties involved, Serge Gnabry will extend his contract by next week at the latest. The framework is in place for a contract until 2028 with a slight salary reduction.

Slight salary reduction? That will probably not make some Bayern Munich fans happy. Gnabry’s current financial package (salary + bonus) is €23.5 million. With a back-up role in his immediate future, many fans were expecting a large scale pay reduction.

The feeling here is still €15 million-€16 million as a total package per season, but that could be low (yikes) given this report. More power to Gnabry, though, who likely is living by this mantra: “You are worth whatever someone will pay you.”

Spurs to can Frank? (ESPN)

Tottenham Hotspur could be getting close to sacking head coach Thomas Frank:

The Tottenham Hotspur board are debating whether to give manager Thomas Frank one more game to try and save his job, according to The Independent. Saturday’s 2-1 home defeat to West Ham United sparked chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” from Spurs fans, However, the team still have a chance of finishing in the top eight of the Champions League league phase with two games remaining, starting with Tuesday’s visit of Borussia Dortmund, leaving little time between games to make a change in the dugout.

Fulham still eyeing Pepi (ESPN)

Fulham FC could still be interested in former FC Augsburg striker Ricardo Pepi, who has experienced a resurgence at PSV Eindhoven:

Fulham have not yet given up on signing PSV Eindhoven forward Ricardo Pepi, despite the United States international recently suffering a broken forearm, Sky Sports reports. Pepi has scored 11 goals for PSV this season, including three in the UEFA Champions League, but he now faces two months on the sidelines following surgery.

United eyeing Glasner (ESPN)

Manchester United could take a run at Oliver Glasner to be its next manager:

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is on Manchester United’s managerial shortlist, according to the Daily Mirror. The Austrian coach, who led Palace to the FA Cup last season and won the Europa League at previous club Eintracht Frankfurt, recently announced he will depart Palace at the end of the season.

Glasner was linked to Bayern Munich in the past and is rumored to have the Bavarians as his dream club.

BVB making big plans to keep Schlotterbeck (Sky Germany)

Borussia Dortmund is going to do whatever it can to keep center-back Nico Schlotterbeck:

Borussia Dortmund is continuing its fight to extend the contract of the German national team star. As Sky Sport exclusively learned, a secret summit regarding the star’s future took place on Wednesday evening at the BVB headquarters in Brackel. Those present included Schlotterbeck’s advisor Björn Etzel, Dortmund’s sporting director Lars Ricken, and sporting director Sebastian Kehl.
Arguments were exchanged between the player and club representatives at a secret meeting. Dortmund’s position is clear: Schlotterbeck absolutely must stay! Consequently, the BVB bosses have once again made a persuasive offer to the agent to extend his contract: With his signature, Schlotterbeck would become the highest earner and the face of the club. His current contract runs until 2027. However, the national and international competition isn’t standing still – and BVB knows it…
Borussia Dortmund wants clarity; they don’t want to wait any longer. One thing is clear: the World Cup shouldn’t be a showcase for the BVB star to gamble on a new contract. All parties agree on this. A statement from Schlotterbeck’s side is expected by the end of January/mid-February. The outcome is still uncertain.

Leipzig to make move for Reitz? (Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg)

RB Leipzig might be trying to grab Borussia Mönchengladbach midfielder Rocco Reitz this summer:

🚨💣 EXCLUSIVE | RB Leipzig are pushing to sign Rocco #Reitz. He is a top transfer target for the summer.
RB Leipzig – with Jürgen Klopp also involved – see him as a top replacement for Kevin Kampl and/or Xaver Schlager. Schlager could leave on a free transfer. Reitz has a €28 million (❗️) release clause for the summer.
Eintracht, Leverkusen and Brighton are also interested, but Leipzig are already very concrete in their interest.
@SkySportDE

This seems like the kind of move that could go down for Leipzig. With Gladbach treading water, Reitz might be ready for a change of scenery.

If you are looking for more Bayern Munich and German national team coverage, check out the latest episodes of Bavarian Podcast Works, which you can get on Acast, Spotify, Apple, or any leading podcast distributor…