Bavarian Football Works

FC Bayern are increasingly using artificial intelligence (AI) in their day-to-day operations. The club has banned the use of ChatGPT and has developed its own AI platform, which is already in use in various departments such as fan services and the legal department. FC Bayern employees are required to use this internal platform for work purposes.

Thomas Ehemann, Head of Digital Fan Experience at FC Bayern: “We have started blocking various AI platforms for our staff, such as ChatGPT. This is intended to make our employees use our own platform. And in addition, it’s all a private cloud. We thought there would be a bit more resistance [to the ban], but that hasn’t been the case. The employees are happy to have a flexible and simple solution”

Real Madrid winger Rodrygo would consider joining Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur, according to TEAMtalk, with the 24-year-old aiming for more game time in the hope of earning a place in Brazil’s squad at the World Cup. The Premier League giants are all keeping an eye on his situation, but Los Blancos insist that Rodrygo is part of their plans so a January transfer would be difficult to complete and would cost around €80 million.

Manchester United, Real Madrid and Barcelona are all keen on signing Eintracht Frankfurt left back Nathaniel Brown, according to Florian Plettenberg. Madrid in particular have sent scouts to watch the 22-year-old in action against Cologne and Atalanta, and the Germany international could be set to leave the Bundesliga in the summer of 2026 after what has been a breakout season. Brown won his first full international cap in October, and his crossing ability and attacking runs have earmarked him as one of the most exciting full backs in the German league. Eintracht are reported to be seeking a fee of around €60 million.

Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford is considering leaving the club after just five months, following the subsequent arrival of Gianluigi Donnarumma, according to The Daily Mail. Fellow City backup keeper Stefan Ortega is also contemplating his future, with both keen for more first-team action. Trafford, 23, arrived from Burnley for £27 million in the summer but hasn’t played a Premier League game since Donnarumma signed from Paris Saint-Germain on transfer deadline day. Trafford had hoped his move would help him land the England No. 1 jersey, but now his place in the squad is in jeopardy because of his lack of game time. Newcastle were linked previously and could be first in line for the former Burnley man when the transfer window opens.

What does Serge Gnabry do when he has a month off?

Gnabry: “That’s difficult. Too many things. Surfing in Hawaii. Take a course like that for three weeks. That would be a thought. Some other things that I can’t tell you. Maybe go to a monastery in Nepal.”

Arsenal are considering a move for versatile Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi, according to The Mirror. The Gunners are looking for further attacking reinforcements and the 23-year-old could be available next summer before his contract runs out in 2027. Dortmund value the striker’s transfer at around €80 million after he racked up 28 goal contributions in his past 56 appearances, grabbing three goals and six assists so far in 2025-26. Adeyemi can play anywhere along the front line, with Chelsea and Manchester United also interested.

This is a bad game to not have Alphonso Davies

Bayern Munich fans lament the fact that Jamal Musiala and Alphonso Davies will be missing for the Arsenal game. Watching the way they dismantled Thomas Frank’s Tottenham Hotspur, it is easy to see why the Canadian could have been the key to keeping things tidy at the back.

While none of Arsenal’s goals came from their wide players directly — Bukayo Saka had a relatively quiet game, and Jurriën Timber ‘only’ had an assist — the way they stretched the Spurs defense with their width was the difference maker in the end. This opened up a gap right in front of the defense, which Eberechi Eze took full advantage of by scoring a hat trick.

The left flank of Bayern Munich is probably its weakest link. Without Davies and with Ito still just returning from injury, Kompany will either have to play Josip Stanisic or Konrad Laimer out of position.

Compounding the issue is the loss of Luis Diaz to a red card suspension — his terrier-like tenacity at the back will be sorely missed. When Bukayo Saka and Jurriën Timber bear down on the Bavarians’ makeshift left flank, there is potential for disaster if Kompany doesn’t play things carefully.

To be honest, it really is a question of maintaining shape. If Bayern Munich can manage to stay in position and not let the Gunners’ wide men open up gaps in the line, things should go relatively smoothly. If they can’t, well… that will make for a tough ninety minutes.

The Emirates can be silenced, if you play it right

Maybe it was just a quirk of the broadcast, but the Emirates stadium felt LOUD in the game against Spurs. If they bring that same energy to a Champions League night, the pressure on Bayern Munich will be enormous.

Still, when Richarlison scored from well outside the box, it took the wind out of their sails. Arsenal were still 3-1 up and cruising at that point, but the stadium became so quiet you could even hear the Spurs fans sing on the broadcast.

Now, Bayern Munich have an away contingent that always travel in force — they have a habit of drowning out Premier League cathedrals. The team just has to give them something to work with. A goal or two would be best, but even a decent start would go a long way to silencing the Emirates.

Arsenal have no obvious weaknesses, but…

The way Tottenham played, they were always destined to lose. They began time wasting from minute five, and played with a back five (sometimes even a back six) with zero counterpress or any ambition at all. Of course Arsenal ran all over them.

Now we know that Bayern Munich will not play that way — but what weaknesses can they target?

At first glance, Arsenal seem more or less a complete team. They are solid at the back, their midfield dominates with ease, and their attack can score just fine. So where does Kompany go from here? What does he do?

Simply put, he doesn’t have to reinvent his tactics. The way Arsenal are set up now, they can be beaten if Bayern Munich bring their A-game to the Emirates. The Gunners have weaknesses, they are just not as obvious as their strengths. At minute 54, our very own João Palhinha (currently on loan at Spurs) chases down a languid Zubimendi and dispossesses him, giving the ball to Richarlison. The Brazilian then proceeds to score a sensational goal over the head of David Raya.

Moments like that came few and far between for Spurs. They simply did not take the game to Arsenal — and when they did, it was Palhinha putting on a one man show in midfield. If they had been more proactive, trying to press the Arsenal midfielders instead of sitting back bottled in their half, maybe the game might have had a different result.

Bayern Munich are a more proactive team than Spurs. They will counterpress Arsenal at every opportunity. Of course this opens up the Bavarians to counterattacks via throughballs, but that’s a risk that will need to be taken. Kompany’s system is set up to play that way, whatever the tradeoff.

Now, Arsenal were rather conservative with their passing vs Spurs — preferring to keep the ball rather than lose it. If they remain timid against Bayern, they may not be able to capitalize on mistakes the same way another team would. Of course, this assumes that Mikel Arteta won’t set up his team more aggressively in the CL.

All being said, Bayern Munich don’t have to do anything special — there is no need for a tiger to change its stripes. Just play the way they always have, and Arsenal should be manageable. Key word here being “should” — most regard the Gunners as one of if not THE best team in the world right now, and they certainly showed their credentials in the North London Derby.

Whatever happens, this will be a mouthwatering tie for football fans.

Miscellaneous observations

However, despite the noise from the outside, Fabirizo Romano has revealed that internally at Tottenham, they are very satisfied with the impact Palhinha has made.

When asked what the feeling is at Spurs about the Portugal international’s first few months at the club, Romano told GiveMeSport: “Very happy. Palhinha adapted immediately very well.”

He also revealed that there is a positive feeling at the club about Randal Kolo Muani after the striker picked up his first assist against Copenhagen.

When quizzed on whether Spurs rate the on-loan PSG man highly, Romano said: “Very happy with both. Kolo is now finding his form slowly after he didn’t have pre-season. But at Spurs, the general feeling is positive with both.”

Kim Min-jae is currently the #3 center-back at Bayern Munich, not just because that’s his shirt number but he currently sits behind the preferred pairing of Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah. The Korean has had to battle injuries in a bid to regain his spot, but it looks like the club is considering moving him on. Enter Tottenham Hotspur.

According to Flash Score (as captured by Team Talk), the Premier League outfit is targeting the supposed outcast of Bayern’s defensive group, with fledgling English champions Liverpool also keeping tabs. Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, and Chelsea are also said to be interested. Spurs on the other hand are looking at Pierre Kalulu (Juventus) and Ezri Konsa (Aston Villa).

Bayern has started exceptionally well this season, but the looming threat of injuries means their thin squad cannot be compromised, which is probably why they aren’t letting go of Kim just yet. With rumors of the Bavarians courting Nico Schlotterbeck from Dortmund and Marc Guéhi from Crystal Palace, maybe they are planning an eventual separation from the former Napoli CB.

Harry Kane’s possible return to England continues to be the source of speculation and anticipation. Will the Bayern Munich star be the man to turn around the dumpster fire at Manchester United? Or will he chase Alan Shearer’s legendary goals record at his old club, Tottenham Hotspur?

But Kane himself has tasted trophies and elite level football at Bayern — and that’s not going to be easy to walk away from.

“I’m not sure (if I’ll go back). I’m very happy here in Munich,” Kane revealed in an interview this week for MailSport (as captured by @iMiaSanMia). “It’s not something I’m thinking about. It’ll always be ‘we’ (with Spurs) because I spent my whole life there. I’m a fan of them and will always watch them and see how they’re getting on. They will always be a part of my life for sure but as for now, I’m loving it here.

“It was great to see (them win a trophy this year). I’ve got a lot of friends there with the players and staff.

“We know how long we waited and how close we’d come in the past so it was big for everyone — the fans, the club and all involved to have that feeling and get that one over the line. That’s always important and hopefully they can push on and win more.”

So naturally, Kane does still have Spurs in his heart and always will. But that may just mean cheering fondly from afar while pushing for Champions League titles every year in Munich.

Bayern Munich is starting to really hit the rough-and-tumble portion of its first half schedule and Der Klassiker is at the forefront of it all.

Sure, Bayern Munich passed its test against Eintracht Frankfurt before the last international break, but Bundesliga matches against Bayer Leverkusen and SC Freiburg, Champions League games vs. Club Brugge, Paris Saint-Germain, and Arsenal, plus a DFB-Pokal tilt vs. FC Köln all are on tap before the end of November.

Let’s dive into that and more on this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Weekend Warm-up Show:

Also, be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @BavarianPodcast @TheBarrelBlog, @BFWCyler, @2012nonexistent, @TommyAdams71 and more.

João Palhinha did everything he could to stay at Bayern Munich this summer. But when the opportunity came to move to Tottenham Hotspur, the Portuguese midfielder was happy for his fresh start. And it is a chance he has grabbed with both hands.

The change of environment has been everything for Palhinha, who is now a mainstay in Thomas Frank’s Spurs side and scoring entertaining and crucial goals.

“[Last season] was a difficult season for me,” Palhinha revealed in recent comments captured by @iMiaSanMia. “I was injured and was out for longer than I’d expected. After that, I didn’t get the chances I think I deserved [at Bayern], which also had an impact on my playing time with the national team. But these are phases. Our careers thrive on phases. Now, I’m going through a happy phase in my life. A new club, a new project, in a league that’s not new to me and that I’m enjoying again.

“At Tottenham, I’ve had chances I didn’t have before. I feel complete confidence in the people who wanted me to join the club. In this case, the manager. When we feel this confidence and that we’re wanted somewhere, I think that’s where we should be. I made this decision very easily. These chances are making me once again show what I’m capable of. I’m very happy with this new challenge and just want to enjoy the Premier League to the fullest.”

Palhinha never got off on the right foot at Bayern. Injuries aside, he arrived as the coach who wanted him originally departed. And the new manager, Vincent Kompany, had a noticeably distinct style of play. Sometimes a change of environment is for the best.

The 30-year-old is only on loan this season, but with how well he is integrating, his chances for sticking around permanently look good at the moment.

There has been a lot of talk about a potential return to England for Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane.

One person who would love to see it happen is Tottenham Hotspur coach Thomas Frank, who would like to see Kane back with his old club.

“There are a lot of Tottenham fans, including myself who would like to see Kane back. Personally, I don’t think he will do it right now, if I’m honest. He’ll probably stay in Bayern and continue performing well. He was the top scorer last year. He won the title and he’s doing fantastic now. I don’t know what he’s thinking. Myself, I’m a traveller, I like to explore things as well, so he’s been here for many years, so why not enjoy the time in Bayern a little bit more. But he’s welcome. If he wants to join us, he’s more than welcome,” said Frank (as captured by @iMiaSanMia).

There could be a lot more stories like this one given the recent news about Kane needing to notify Bayern Munich in January if he intends to leave during the summer.

Surely, though, a lot of clubs in England would like to have Kane on their squad — not just Tottenham Hotspur.

Bayern Munich will host Werder Bremen in a Bundesliga match that — on paper — looks a little lopsided.

Okay, a lot lopsided.

The Bavarians are scorching hot and Werder Bremen has a slew of injuries, which makes for what could be a very tough challenge against a Bayern Munich team than can just wear down the opposition.

Let’s get into it — this is what we have on tap for this edition of the Bavarian Podcast Works — Preview Show:

What to watch for with Werder Bremen. Die Werderaner are banged up, but does still have some talent. Will it be enough to shock Bayern Munich? We doubt it.

A look at Bayern Munich’s injury situation.

A guess at Bayern Munich’s starting XI.

A prediction on the match.

Support Bavarian Podcast Works on Patreon!

If you like our podcasts and want more, or just want to listen our episodes ad-free, then support us on Patreon! Every single dollar will be used to help boost the coverage of the team we all love. Mia San Mia.

DONATE NOW!

Also, be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @BavarianPodcast @TheBarrelBlog, @BFWCyler, @2012nonexistent, @TommyAdams71 and more.

Things are going well for Bayern Munich loanee João Palhinha at Tottenham Hotspur and both sides want to continue to work together after this season:

João Palhinha is keen to stay in Tottenham beyond next summer. The original agreement has an option to buy, which is set at €30m. That was something that both Tottenham and the player were very keen on factoring in as part of the deal. Palhinha, in particular, viewed the loan as being contingent on having that option to buy because he would like to be permanently back in the Premier League. If Tottenham choose to take up the option, the player will be very happy with that.

Sometimes, a transfer is simply about fit. At Bayern Munich, Palhinha had trouble finding how he fit within Vincent Kompany’s system. At Tottenham Hotspur, Palhinha’s transition has been seamless. With things going well, it appears that Bayern Munich could add €30 million to its war chest for what could be a busy summer of 2026.

What makes the Bundesliga the best league in the world?

Is it the screamers from 30 yards? The global superstars? Or the fact that on any given day, the underdog can win 4–3?

In this episode of The Bundesliga Rundown, Marcus shares why—in his opinion—the Bundesliga stands apart: the legendary 50+1 rule.

Here’s what’s inside:

A quick background on the 50+1 rule

Why the tide may be changing among football fans: are people starting to realise that romanticism matters more than success on the pitch?

Union Berlin! The underdog from the East

Union of yesterday: from donating blood to save their club, to playing at the Santiago Bernabéu

Union of today: defensive but lethal

Steffen Baumgart: the Bundesliga’s most energetic coach

Support Bavarian Podcast Works on Patreon!

If you like our podcasts and want more, or just want to listen our episodes ad-free, then support us on Patreon! Every single dollar will be used to help boost the coverage of the team we all love. Mia San Mia.

SUPPORT NOW!

If you’re on BlueSky, be sure to follow the Bundesliga Rundown and Bavarian Football Works at:

If you’re on Instagram, be sure to follow the Bundesliga Rundown at @TheBundesligaRundown

Also, be sure to stay tuned to Bavarian Podcast Works for all of your up to date coverage on Bayern Munich and Germany. Check us out on Patreon and follow us on Twitter @BavarianFBWorks, @BavarianPodcast @TheBarrelBlog, @BFWCyler, @2012nonexistent, @TommyAdams71 and more.

🚨⚪️ Official offer from Tottenham to RB Leipzig for Xavi #Simons – 100% confirmed, with both clubs in direct contact today.

Tottenham are pushing. Xavi Simons is in London.

An agreement between Leipzig and Tottenham is seen as a matter of time. RB demand €70m including add-ons. No decision for now – it’s up to Xavi and any potential Chelsea movement.

🚨💣 BREAKING | Tottenham are now preparing to hijack the imminent deal for #Xavi Simons to Chelsea.

Xavi has been excused from team duties due to contract talks and is no longer in Leipzig, as RB confirm. #CFC #COYS

Xavi and Chelsea still have a full agreement in place – and Chelsea remain very much in the race, now alongside Tottenham. Leipzig are waiting for official offers.

@philipphinze24 @SkySportDE