Bundesliga

Franck Ribery has said he would be open to moving to A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers when he leaves Bayern Munich in the summer. 

The Frenchman has confirmed he will not renew his contract when it expires in the summer, bringing to a close a glittering 12-season spell for him at Bayern:

At 36, he is unlikely to earn a move to another top European club.

However, Western Sydney and Qatari club Al Sadd have been mooted as potential destinations, per Sacha Pisani of Goal.

Wanderers manager, Markus Babbel, is a former Bayern player and recently said he has been in touch with Ribery about a potential move.

Per Vince Rugari of The Sydney Morning Herald, Babbel said he told Ribery to move to Australia "if you want to be a rock star," but he acknowledged the winger could get a lot more money in Qatar and the chance of Wanderers signing him "is maybe one per cent,"

However, when asked about the prospect, Ribery left the door open and said he will not be swayed exclusively by financial concerns, per Pisani:

"You know that I played football because of the fun and to enjoy it. I love football. If you play well, then you make yourself a great name and the money comes on its own. You earn money for what you did. I do not just play for money. But why should not I move to colleague Babbel? I do not know. There are many options. I'm not sure yet where I'm going."

Ribery moved to Bayern from Marseille for £17 million in 2007 and is on the verge of winning his ninth Bundesliga title.

Among numerous other trophies, Ribery also became a UEFA Champions League winner with Bayern in 2013 when they beat Borussia Dortmund 2-1 in the final at Wembley Stadium.

His career has been slowly on the wane for some time now.

But he has still managed to contribute in 2018-19, netting five goals and providing three assists in 23 league appearances.

Despite his age, Ribery still has more than enough talent to be a star outside of Europe, and he would be a huge attraction in the A-League should he decide to move Down Under. 

Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Julian Brandt has downplayed exit speculation involving Juventus and Liverpool, saying he's enjoying himself at his current club.

The 23-year-old gave an interview to the Bundesliga's official website (h/t Goal's Chris Burton), saying he's focused on the 2018-19 campaign for now: "I'm enjoying myself. I've got a contract with Bayer until 2021, so right now all is well. As things stand, I'm staying put. I just want to end the season as best we can."

Sports writer Manuel Veth believes the player meant he'll stay at Leverkusen if they can secure UEFA Champions League football for next year:

With two Bundesliga matches left to play, Leverkusen are tied with Eintracht Frankfurt for the final Champions League ticket. Frankfurt are winless in their last four matches and still have Bayern Munich on the schedule.

Per Goal's Ronan Murphy, there have been more rumours involving Brandt, with Bayern and Borussia Dortmund seen as possible destinations:

He also noted Sport Bild have reported Leverkusen are set to buy Hoffenheim's Kerem Demirbay, a possible replacement for Brandt:

The Germany international made his Bundesliga debut with Leverkusen in 2014 and has been regarded as one of the top young players in Germany ever since.

Known for his versatility and well-rounded attacking game, he can play as an attacking midfielder or on either wing and can even drop further back into midfield.

He has tremendous passing range and has racked up 11 assists in the Bundesliga this season. Some of those passes have been of exceptional quality:

Brandt has also scored six goals in the competition and seems more than ready for the move to a top club.

Juventus, in particular, could use a player like Brandt, as they lacked creativity throughout the season and were hampered by poor midfield play in their doomed Champions League campaign.

Brandt's passing ability is reminiscent of that of Miralem Pjanic, who refused to rule out a transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in a recent interview with Canal+ (h/t Italian Football TV):

Liverpool have less of a need for creativity but are expected to add to their depth going into next season. Brandt's versatility would make him a great option, as he could replace Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane out wide if they needed a breather or slide into a central role when both are in the starting XI.

Borussia Monchengladbach sporting director Max Eberl has said there have "unfortunately" not been any offers from Premier League clubs for Thorgan Hazard, amid rumours Liverpool and Arsenal are interested in the Belgium international.

Hazard seems likely to join Bundesliga rivals Borussia Dortmund, and Eberl told Sport1 (h/t Goal's Chris Burton) a transfer to another German club is "more realistic" than a switch to England: "Unfortunately, there is no offer from England. The German market is more realistic than the English one."

The player himself already told VTM (h/t sportswriter Kristof Terreur) he has a personal agreement with Dortmund, but the two clubs have yet to agree a fee:

The €40 million (£34 million/$45 million) asking price could be a sticking point, and Monchengladbach's negotiating position would be a lot stronger if English clubs were hoping to land the winger as well.

Formerly of Chelsea, Hazard has blossomed into a quality forward in Germany. He has scored nine goals and nine assists in the Bundesliga this season and finished the 2017-18 campaign with 10 goals in the competition.

The 26-year-old has also become a regular for the Belgian national team, where he combines well with his brother Eden Hazard.

Here is a look at what makes the versatile forward such a strong weapon:

Dortmund will have to replace star prospect Christian Pulisic in the summer—the American will be joining Chelsea. In Hazard, they could land a player who would likely be an upgrade in the immediate future, as he has been more productive than the 20-year-old from Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Hazard joined Chelsea in 2012 but never got a run in the senior team and spent time on loan with Zulte Waregem before joining Monchengladbach. Given his lack of opportunities in the Premier League, his preference to stay in the Bundesliga seems logical.

Per Burton, his contract is set to expire in 2020, so Monchengladbach will have to agree to a transfer in the summer to maximise their earning potential.

Bayern Munich announced on Sunday that longtime winger Franck Ribery will not sign a new contract and will instead leave the Bundesliga club at the end of the season.

The German champions took to Twitter to share the news:

Per Goal's Ronan Murphy, Ribery said he wants to continue playing but has no firm plans for his future:

The 36-year-old has represented the club since 2007, amassing an impressive collection of silverware. He won the 2012-13 UEFA Champions League with the Bavarians, as well as eight Bundesliga titles, and could add a ninth this season.

With two matches left to play, Bayern lead Borussia Dortmund by four points. A win over RB Leipzig on Saturday will seal the deal for the Bavarians.

Ribery is also a three-time French Player of the Year winner, and he became the first to hold that distinction and the German Footballer of the Year at the same time, doing so in 2008. He finished in third place in the Ballon d'Or race in 2013, and per Bleacher Report's Alex McGovern, he would have won under the current criteria:

International success eluded Ribery, who took second place with France at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and retired from Les Bleus in 2014.

Even at the age of 36, Ribery has played regularly for Bayern this season, making 23 total appearances in the Bundesliga. He will likely have plenty of options as a free agent, whether it's in Europe or a league like MLS.

He's not the only longtime Bayern winger who will leave the club this summer, with Arjen Robben also headed for the exit door:

Bayern brought in Alphonso Davies in January and also have Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry in the squad. But with two longtime stars leaving, they are likely to spend big on another star winger in the summer.

Lille's Nicolas Pepe has been frequently mentioned as a target, and while his agent, Samir Khiat, recently told RTL there are no favourites for his signature (h/t Mirror's Alex Smith), Bayern was the only club he mentioned by name.

Jadon Sancho was hit by an object thrown from the stands as Borussia Dortmund were beaten 4-2 by rivals Schalke 04 in a controversial Ruhr derby in the Bundesliga on Saturday.

The Dortmund attacking midfielder is said to have been hit by a lighter launched from the away section:

Sancho had helped Dortmund take the lead at Signal Iduna Park by teeing up Mario Gotze.

However, goals from Daniel Caligiuri and Salif Sane put the visitors in front before the break. Things got worse for the hosts when Marco Reus was shown a straight red card on the hour mark, and Caligiuri added his second direct from a free-kick two minutes later.

Dortmund went down to nine men after right-back Marius Wolf was red-carded on 65 minutes. The home side still got a goal back from Axel Witsel late on, before Breel Embolo's 86th-minute goal finished things in Schalke's favour.

It means Dortmund could fall four points adrift of Bayern with three games left if Die Roten win away to FC Nuremberg on Sunday.

Earlier, Sancho was understandably euphoric after a goal contribution that earned the teenage England international a rare landmark:

One more assist is just another notable moment for a player who has put together a remarkable season since moving to the German top flight last summer. Now Sancho's potential is earning him some lofty plaudits.

His performances are also encouraging links with the biggest clubs on the continent, including Real Madrid. The Spanish giants are reportedly keen, with manager Zinedine Zidane an admirer of the former Manchester City academy star's ability, according to German publication Bild (h/t AS).

Keeping a rising talent will be key to Dortmund's chances of competing with Bayern Munich beyond this season. Sancho has established himself as the creative fulcrum of manager Lucien Favre's team, and his development is best served by staying in Germany a little while longer.

Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has confirmed the club remain interested in Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi despite the 18-year-old suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon on Monday. 

Per Goal, Bayern attempted to sign Hudson-Odoi in January but were knocked back by Chelsea.

Hoeness said on Wednesday: "[Chief executive] Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and [sporting director] Hasan Salihamidzic have said that he is an interesting player. I think we keep thinking about it. But he's just on the operating table. Therefore it makes no sense to comment on this."

The youngster had surgery on Tuesday, the day after he suffered the injury in the Blues' 2-2 Premier League draw with Burnley.

Per Goal's Nizaar Kinsella, the winger is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines that could see him miss the start of next season:

Hudson-Odoi has made 24 first-team appearances for the Blues this season, starting 12. In that time, he has contributed five goals and as many assists.

His form earned him his first senior England call-up, and he bagged an assist on his full Three Lions debut against Montenegro in March.

He's a skilled player with the ball at his feet, as he's shown in the UEFA Europa League this season:

Over the course of the campaign, he has also developed the defensive side of his game and shown willingness to track back, as football statistician Dave O'Brien demonstrated:

The teenager looks to have a bright future ahead, and Bayern's ongoing interest perhaps also speaks to the potential he has to make it at the top level.

The Bavarian outfit are a point clear of Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga with four matches remaining, and they'll win their seventh title in a row if they see out the campaign successfully.

However, they spent much of it trailing Dortmund having fallen below their usual standards.

If Hudson-Odoi is set to miss the start of next season, Bayern may opt not to resume their pursuit of him this summer.

Given he'll soon be in the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge, it's little wonder they're still set to keep an eye on him, though.

When he returns to fitness, he could play a part in a much-needed overhaul at the Allianz Arena in the near future if he doesn't sign a new deal.

Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara has said the team are still benefiting from the work done by former manager Pep Guardiola. 

The German giants dominated the Bundesliga during Guardiola's three seasons at the helm between 2013 and 2016, winning the top-flight title on three occasions.

Thiago was signed by Guardiola at the Allianz Arena in 2013, with the duo having worked together during their time at Barcelona. Speaking about his former boss, Thiago said some of the skills Guardiola taught at Munich are still helping the current side, per Goal and DAZN (h/t Kerry Hau of Goal).

"He definitely left his mark at the club because he and his ideas have shaped us enormously as a team," said the Spain international. "You can feel it on the pitch. In some match situations, we still do things he taught us. But I think that we have managed to take the positives from each of our coaches and combine them."

Thiago went on to say Guardiola is "one of the best coaches in the world, if not the best." He added that he learned a lot from having him as a manager and was grateful for taking him from the fringes of the Barcelona setup, into the Bayern first team.

Guardiola is rated as one of the best managers around and has twice inspired his teams to incredible winning runs:

While Bayern have maintained their status as Germany's dominant team since Guardiola left in 2016, they have not enjoyed a stable spell.

After a positive first season, Carlo Ancelotti was sacked in the early stages of the 2017-18 term and replaced by Bayern icon Jupp Heynckes until the end of the campaign. Current boss Nico Kovac succeeded him, and while the team sit at the summit of the standings, they were underwhelming in the UEFA Champions League.

Guardiola has gone on to enjoy more domestic success at Manchester City, with the team achieving 100 points on their way to Premier League glory in 2017-18. However, as was the case at Bayern, he hasn't been able to convert that into Champions League success:

The man himself recently spoke about his time at Bayern and opted against calling it a failure because the team didn't win in Europe:

Thiago has been a tremendous signing for Bayern and has developed into one of European football's most gifted midfielders during his time with the Bavarian giants. 

Injuries have limited his appearances in some recent seasons, although this term he has been able to make 22 starts in the Bundesliga. Thiago has won the German top-flight title on five occasions but will surely be desperate to add a Champions League success to his honours list before his time with the Munich outfit comes to an end.

Bayern Munich midfielder Renato Sanches says he thinks he will leave the club in the summer transfer window because he wants to play more regularly.    

The 21-year-old told Sport Bild (h/t Calciomercato.com) that he does not know yet if he will leave on loan or move on a permanent transfer.

"Everyone knows I want to play more, five minutes are not enough for me. Playing is what I love, I do my best in every training session.

"My coach and my team-mates know it too, I am always ready to play a few minutes a game, I trust myself and I want to do well every time I get the chance to play, I still have fifteen years of football ahead of me, the future can be good.

"I don't know if it will be a transfer on loan or outright, but I think I will leave Bayern. We will evaluate what is best for me, I just want to play more."

Sanches returned to Bayern in July 2018 after a season on loan with Swansea City but has only made six starts in all competitions for manager Niko Kovac's side. 

Kovac has said it is "not easy" for Sanches at Bayern and added that the club plan to "talk after the last game and sit down together," per Goal's Jamie Smith.

Sanches joined Bayern from Benfica in 2016 and was widely regarded as one of Europe's brightest young talents at the time. He won the 2016 Golden Boy award and was part of the Portugal squad that won the 2016 UEFA European Championship.

However, he's been unable to make an impact at Bayern and flopped during his one season in the Premier League with Swansea.

The Swans manager at the time, Carlos Carvalhal, said Sanches knew he had had "a very bad season," per the Telegraph's Alex Bywater. Sanches made just 15 appearances as Swansea were relegated to the Championship.

Sanches returned to Bayern and has shown glimpses of his talent:

Nonetheless, he's been unable to command a regular spot and was linked with a move away from Bayern in the January transfer window. Kovac said, however, the youngster could feature more regularly in the second half of the season:

Yet Sanches is yet to make a single start for Bayern in 2019, and his frustration at being a bit-part player suggests the time is right time for him to move on and attempt to revive his career elsewhere.   

Nicolas Pepe's agent has confirmed transfer talks are underway with interested clubs, amid rumours linking the Lille star with Bayern Munich and several Premier League sides.

Speaking to RTL (h/t Mirror's Alex Smith), agent Samir Khiat said there are no favourites for his signature, although he did name Bayern in the process: "We are in discussions with clubs. No decision has been taken. Today, there are no favourites, be it Bayern Munich or another club. Nicolas will not go just anywhere. We have not decided on which league."

Per the report, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal have all been linked with the Ivory Coast international. The Gunners have reportedly scouted Pepe for over a year, but his £75 million price tag would be a major obstacle for the side from north London.

Bayern have been linked to the 23-year-old more than any other club, perhaps explaining why the agent named the Bundesliga giants. They have a clear need for wing upgrades, as longtime stars Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery are 35 and 36 years old, respectively.

Robben announced he's leaving the club in December, per Omnisport (h/t sportswriter Ronan Murphy), and Ribery could follow suit:

Pepe is expected to be one of the hottest commodities on the transfer market this summer, and Lille president Gerard Lopez has already admitted he will surely leave the club, per Telefoot (h/t Goal):

"This summer, I think we will sell four to five players, no more. All clubs are forced to balance their accounts except perhaps one. I would say yes, it is sure he will leave. He enters a price range that can no longer be paid. There is a career choice to make for him, I think he will have the choice."

Formerly of Angers, the speedster made the smart decision to move to Lille in 2017, rather than jump straight to the Premier League or any top club on the continent. Les Dogues have a tremendous reputation for nurturing talent―Eden Hazard and Idrissa Gueye are but two examples―and they've worked their magic yet again with Pepe.

It's no wonder he's a wanted man with outstanding statistics like these:

The winger is blessed with a tremendous blend of raw athleticism and football intelligence. He uses his great vision and timing to run in behind defences, and has good finishing ability in front of goal.

He was the driving force behind Lille's 5-1 demolition of Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, as you can see in these highlights and WhoScored's stats:

If the PSG match served as some kind of audition ahead of the summer transfer window, he passed the test with flying colours.

Bayern seems the most likely destination due to their need at the wing position and willingness to dip into the French market. Former Lyon star Corentin Tolisso was their most expensive ever signing until they splashed the cash on Lucas Hernandez, who will move to Bavaria together with Benjamin Pavard in the summer.

They've already spent big on Hernandez, however, and Pepe won't come cheap. At €80 million (roughly £69 million) the transfer of the former nearly doubled Bayern's transfer record, and even more spending is not in line with the club's usual policy.

Barcelona and Real Madrid transfer target Luka Jovic has completed a permanent transfer to Eintracht Frankfurt, with the German side announcing they have triggered their option on the rising star.

The Serb has signed a contract until 2023:

Per Goal, both La Liga giants are keen on the 21-year-old, while his coach also said Bayern Munich and Manchester City are eyeing Jovic.

He moved to the Bundesliga on loan in 2017 after an unsuccessful spell with Portuguese heavyweights Benfica. The Eagles will be kicking themselves for inserting a clause into the deal, as Jovic has developed into one of the most wanted strikers on the planet in Germany.

Per Goal's Ronan Murphy, Eintracht could flip him for a huge profit, but they're eager to keep him around for now:

His father has already said Jovic won't be leaving the club this summer, as he has no interest in a bench role elsewhere:

Such a mindset makes sense for the young talent, who has been regarded as a future star since he broke into Red Star Belgrade's senior side as a teenager.

The Guardian profiled Jovic as part of their Next Generation list in 2014, and sportswriter Aleksandar Holiga compared him to Colombian hitman Radamel Falcao.

He joined Benfica in 2016, but his playing time took a massive hit, and his development stalled.

The loan move to Frankfurt was exactly what he needed, and his development in Germany has been spectacular:

Real Madrid, in particular, could use the youngster, as they struggled for goals at times this season and are expected to overhaul the squad in the summer. Jovic will likely decline any transfer for now, however.

Expect the starlet to stay at Eintracht for at least one more season before completing his switch to a top club.