Daily Schmankerl: Christoph Freund says Bayern Munich fans shouldn’t expect new striker in January; Is Alphonso Davies lowering his contract demands?; Noussair Mazraoui settling in nicely at Manchester United; BVB eyeing Christopher Nkunku; and MORE!

The injury to Harry Kane might have some Bayern Munich fans worried, but no one at the club is hitting the panic button. In fact, sporting director Christoph Freund said that the club does not appear likely to pursue a back-up to the Englishman this January…though he did leave a little wiggle room for something to happen.

“We’re totally convinced of our squad. Of course Harry is a special player and cannot be replaced one to one. We wouldn’t be able to afford signing a second Harry Kane. As the coach said, we have options in the squad and are very well equipped in attack,” Freund stated.

For those of you wondering if Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting would be a cheap option as an insurance policy on Kane, well, Mr. Choupo is reportedly headed to New York to play for Red Bull.

Otherwise, Bayern Munich could explore cheap options in January (like the team did with Eric Dier last January) if it changes course and opts to make a move.

Former Bayern Munich right-back Noussair Mazraoui is fitting in very nicely at Manchester United and could end up being a fixture on the squad under Ruben Amorim:

Noussair #Mazraoui is internally regarded as one of the strongest signings of recent years at @ManUtd.

Both the board and the coaching staff are extremely satisfied with his performances. He is seen as an absolute leader and is expected to continue in this role under Ruben #Amorim in the future.

Contract until 2028. #MUFC

Bayern Munich vs. Bayer Leverkusen in a knockout game this early in the season? Say it ain’t so!

The DFB-Pokal has brought these two clubs together and now one of them will be going home. We will discuss all of that and more on the Bavarian Podcast Works Show. This is what we have on tap:

• Can Bayern Munich get back on track after dropping points at Borussia Dortmund over the weekend?
• A look at the recent form of each team and the previous DFB-Pokal results.
• A look at the rosters and injuries for Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich.
• A guess at Bayern Munich’s starting XI…how does Bayern Munich replace Harry Kane?
• A prediction on the match.

Jamal Musiala was named to Bild’s Bundesliga Team of the Week for his performance vs. Borussia Dortmund over the weekend:

Some reports indicate that Mo Salah is getting close to a contract extension with Liverpool FC, but Paris Saint-Germain wants to attempt to pull off a major heist:

Paris Saint-Germain are considering an audacious move for Mohamed Salah at the end of the season, according to L’Equipe. The Egypt star, 32, has yet to agree on new Liverpool contract that goes beyond the end of the campaign, and the French outlet believes he’s already in talks with the Ligue 1 champions.

PSG have so far failed to improve their wing options after having lost out on Napoli’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (23), Manchester United’s Jadon Sancho (24) and Athletic Club’s Nico Williams (22) recently. Salah and PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi know each other well too, which could be a factor, though the French club have refuted the rumour, stating it’s a ploy from Salah’s representatives to put pressure on the Liverpool hierarchy.

For his part, Salah is not giving anyone much of a clue:

Bayern Munich travelled to Borussia Dortmund for Der Klassiker in a match that was very key for both squads.

Ultimately, the two teams battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw. Let’s talk about how it all went down and more on the Bavarian Podcast Works — Postgame Show. This is what we have on tap:

• A look at the starting XI.
• A rundown of the scoring and substitutions, including some thoughts on a surprise start for Mathys Tel.
• What Harry Kane’s injury means and why Bayern Munich could be in for some trouble.
• What this result means for the Bundesliga.
• Some final thoughts and takeaways on the match.

Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies could be considering lowering his salary demands (rumored to be somewhere between €14 million and €16 million, though that differs from the report below) in an effort to stay in Bavaria:

Alphonso Davies, one of the most sought-after football stars, is open to adjust his salary demands in ongoing negotiations with Bayern Munich over a potential contract renewal, reports SPORT. The Canadian, whose current deal is set to expire at the end of the season, has attracted significant interest from top clubs, including Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Barcelona.

Among these suitors, Real Madrid are believed to be in a strong position, as Davies is reportedly keen on joining the Spanish giants. However, recent developments suggest that Davies is now closer to reaching an agreement with Bayern Munich.

Reports indicate that the relationship between his agent, Nick Huoseh, and Bayern has been improving, leading to a reduction in Davies’ initial salary demands. The defender is now reportedly more willing to extend his stay with the Bundesliga club beyond 2025. While the player’s attitude has shifted towards regret and cooperation with Bayern, there are still some uncertainties surrounding his future at the club.

Despite this positive shift, there are still important details to consider. Davies is said to be asking for a signing bonus of around €15 million, along with a salary of approximately €10 million net per season.

These figures are not out of reach for top clubs, with Manchester United reportedly willing to meet his demands. Real Madrid, who have been in discussions with the player for some time, may also come close to offering similar terms.

As things stand, the situation remains at a crossroads for both Bayern Munich and Davies. The player’s decision to lower his salary expectations could potentially pave the way for a new deal with the Bavarian giants, but with high-profile clubs still keen to secure his services, Davies’ future remains uncertain.

If true (more on this below), this certainly would be a game changer for Bayern Munich. A four or five year deal worth €60 million to €62 million might be appealing to Davies. Certainly Real Madrid, Manchester United, and FC Barcelona could all pay Davies that (and likely more), but it could just come down to where Davies wants to play (and how much he wants to stay with Bayern Munich).

The rub is that the initial Sport report is based off of a Sport1 story which…might not exist (at least not on the Sport1 website…though there is a chance something was mentioned on television, but we have not seen anything to verify it).

Chances are that something was lost in translation by Sport, so how should Bayern Munich fans feel? No different from before. Davies still seems like he is headed to Real Madrid, but we do know — via other reports — that Bayern Munich wants to engage in talks with the Canadian in hopes of working something out.

Borussia Dortmund could have former RB Leipzig attacker and current Chelsea FC star Christopher Nkunku in its crosshairs:

Borussia Dortmund aren’t considering a move for Chelsea forward Christopher Nkunku, reports Bild’s Christian Falk. Despite some reports indicating that the 27-year-old was on BVB’s radar, it looks as though a move isn’t on the cards. Nkunku’s future remains uncertain at Stamford Bridge, with just one start from 11 Premier League appearances. He arrived in West London from RB Leipzig for a fee of £52 million in the summer of 2023.