Bavarian Football Works

In one of the craziest transfer twists of the summer, Brighton & Hove Albion has pried center-back phenom Luka Vušković away from Tottenham Hotspur for roughly €58.5 million per transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, who gave it his patented “Here we go!”-treatment:

🚨🔵⚪️ EXCLUSIVE: Brighton agree deal to sign Luka Vušković from Tottenham, here we go! 💣

£46m fixed fee plus sell-on clause to bring the potential package over £50m. Massive signing for #BHAFC after personal terms also agreed.

💣 Spurs ready to go ALL IN for Sandro Tonali.

Bayern Munich was rumored to be very interested in the young Croatia international, but there is a current backlog at center-back that would have needed to be cleared out before such a move could occur. With starters Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah firmly entrenched, back-ups Kim Min-jae and Hiroki Itō are occupying key roster space (and budget space) that likely slowed the Bavarians from getting involved in the race for the 19-year-old.

❌ It is NOT TRUE: Bayern Munich are encountering difficulties in contract talks with Harry Kane. At the moment, there are no talks. Kane, the eternal sportsman, is desperate to win the World Cup with England (which is not good news for Germany!). Two great goals from him against Croatia, by the way! First, Bayern wanted to talk with the England skipper, and he held off on talks because he wanted to win the Bundesliga. Then they asked again, and he asked them to hold off in order to focus on the DFB Pokal. There was also a dream of winning the Champions League, which further contributed to this situation. And now, we have the same (mini) problem again with the World Cup! And don’t get things twisted – it is a mini problem. Harry Kane has made it very clear that he loves Bayern Munich and wants to stay at the club. He’s in no rush. Talks can happen after the World Cup, ideally, for Kane, after he’s helped Thomas Tuchel’s side win it.

I really loved what Harry Kane had to say about Tuchel. He’s not an easy man to work with, but he is brilliant. Kane said the German made such a good speech at half-time in the dressing room against Croatia. Thomas Tuchel made it absolutely clear that when England are losing, they’re losing in their way. That’s Tuchel for “we want to win in the right way!” Ultimately, it appears that he found the right words, and England went on to win convincingly in Dallas. Kane is helping Tuchel navigate life as a German coach in an English dressing room. That may work at Liverpool, but not always with the national team! He needs a little help, which is why it’s so good that he has a partnership with Harry Kane.

Midfielder Palhinha, who is being coveted by Sporting and Tottenham, could arrive at Alvalade for 25 million euros, after Bayern Munich agreed to lower their asking price from 30 million euros.

Palhinha, who was on loan from the German club to Tottenham, welcomes a return to Portugal and to the club that launched his international career. Spurs, in turn, tried to exercise the purchase option, but the player expressed a desire to return to his family.

The Germans initially asked for 30 million euros, but have already lowered the price. Palhinha has a high salary, and therefore the cost to the club is significant for a player who is not in the coach’s plans. That’s where Sporting’s plan comes in. The objective is to fill the more than likely departure of captain Hjulmand with an experienced player capable of leading the dressing room. Sporting will pay less than Bayern is asking but intend to offer a long-term contract.

Brighton & Hove Albion have made a £30million offer to sign defender Luka Vuskovic from Tottenham Hotspur.

There is also strong interest from leading clubs elsewhere in Europe — but Vuskovic’s idea is to join a side like Brighton as the next step in his career and then potentially progress from there.

The 19-year-old knows of Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler from Germany — having spent the season on loan at Hamburg, where his brother Mario also plays — and vice versa, so there is a mutual trust and Vuskovic believes Brighton have shown themselves to be a good developing ground for young talent.

Brighton’s bid for Vuskovic comes amid Tottenham’s pursuit of defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

🚨📈 BREAKING | Understand Luka Vuskovic has already reached a full verbal agreement with Brighton following very positive talks with Fabian Hürzeler and the club’s hierarchy.

Several other clubs have already been turned down. Brighton have submitted a €35m offer to Tottenham post @David_Ornstein.

The deal remains complicated, but Brighton are pushing hard and continue to fight for the transfer. Other clubs are also planning to enter the race. @SkySportDE

In a parallel universe, Michael Olise is sporting a famous white playing kit, but it’s not the one of Real Madrid. Instead, it’s Tottenham, as talkSPORT’s Natalie Sawyer revealed the Premier League side had the opportunity to sign Olise when he was a teenager, only to let him walk free because of a supposed attitude problem.

“I have a story that I was told,” Sawyer said on Monday’s edition of White and Jordan, which she co-hosted alongside Scott Minto. “He could have signed for Tottenham. He was brought in to Tottenham at a very young age and part of the reason they didn’t sign him was because of issues with his attitude. This is what I was told. He then went to Reading.

“The difference between what happened at Tottenham to what happened at Reading, was because Reading had to keep him because he was so good, they can work around this player. Whereas Tottenham thought, ‘Well, we’ve got numerous stars.’”

❌ It is NOT TRUE: Bayern are ready to sell Harry Kane to Barcelona for €80m. FC Bayern do not want to sell the fantastic Kane! They’ve already started talks over a new contract. The only question on the table is how long this new contract will be. Is it just one year, one year with an option, or will Harry Kane ask for longer? This could be a little problem, but in the end, they really want to keep the striker. He’s had a fantastic season and is clearly very important for Vincent Kompany’s team. So Barcelona are going to have to search for another solution if Julian Alvarez doesn’t work out.

✅ It is TRUE: Vincent Kompany is interested in Morgan Rogers, likes the Aston Villa star and would like to have him in Munich. However, the price tag is very high, and there are simply too many Premier League clubs following the Englishman. I don’t think they can afford the player. Bayern fans will remember the story with Xavi Simons when Kompany tried to get the Dutchman. The manager went to Tegernsee, where Uli Hoeneß lives, and the Bayern chief told him that the price is too high, but he can have a slice of pie. I think in this case, it could be another slice of pie for Vincent Kompany!

Manchester City have absolutely ZERO concerns over the prospect of losing Erling Haaland to Real Madrid this summer despite more claims from unrepentant presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme, TEAMtalk can exclusively reveal.

The Spanish businessman has repeatedly insisted that Haaland will join Real Madrid should he win the club’s upcoming presidential election, sparking fresh speculation surrounding the future of one of world football’s biggest stars. However, City sources have underlined to TEAMtalk they have never taken Riquelme’s claims seriously and remain ‘entirely relaxed’ about Haaland’s situation. Indeed, there was satisfaction within the player’s camp when a firm public response was issued on Thursday to reject suggestions that an agreement is already in place.

“Everything very entertaining but it’s NOT true. We wish the best to both candidates in the Real Madrid elections,” a statement from Haaland’s camp, including father Alfie Haaland and agent Rafaela Pimenta, read.

Despite that emphatic denial, Riquelme has refused to back down.

“Haaland’s camp denied the agreement? Well, it’s part of the game. It happened with Luis Figo too,” he said. “I understand that they have to take care of the player and protect him within his club and his camp. That seems normal to me. But I’m telling you again: Erling Haaland will join Real Madrid if I’m president.”

Bayern Munich and João Palhinha have parted ways for good. Loaned out to Tottenham Hotspur for the 2025/26 season, the Portuguese international has settled well in North London. Negotiations between Spurs and Bayern would decide whether Palhinha would make his stay in London permanent or be swooped up by Sporting CP.

Palhinha has found his preferred role in the Spurs system. Being played as a defensive midfielder he has taken to his duties like a fish to water. He’s made more tackles than Joshua Kimmich, Aleksander Pavlović and Leon Goretzka combined in the respective domestic leagues this season. Thriving in a role requiring him to do a lot of the defensive “dirty” work, Palhinha and Spurs are set to extend their partnership per Sky’s Florian Plettenberg (via @iMiaSanMia).

The midfielder has Spurs on his priority list per a report by Fabrizio Romano as captured by @iMiaSanMia. Sporting CP are closely monitoring the situation and offer a return to his home country should talks between Bayern and Spurs fail.

With a competitor to Tottenham for Palhinha’s signature, Bayern can negotiate a better price for the 30 year-old. Some major signings are planned for the summer and funds from outgoing players will be crucial to close the gap against competition. As seen in the Anthony Gordon case, FC Barcelona edged out Bayern Munich by a margin of €10 million.

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…

Never mind those rumored Sporting CP talks. Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha is happy on loan at Tottenham Hotspur — after helping rescue Spurs from relegation on the final Premier League matchday of the season, the Portuguese international has stated his desire to stay in England.

“Since the first day I arrived I feel at home,” Palhinha said in comments captured by @iMiaSanMia. “From the supporters, the crowd. Top club. Who doesn’t want to play for Tottenham and stay here?

“I have everything here. What I can say to you is I would really like to be here and I enjoy it a lot this season with this club even being a tough season.”

Palhinha’s goal on Sunday — supplied by Bayern alum Mathys Tel — lifted Spurs to a 1-0 win over Everton and a second straight 17th-place EPL finish. Not exactly a couple of banner seasons for the North London club, but the Bayern loan-to-stay pipeline may nevertheless continue.

Of course, Bayern has already received a counter-offer:

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…

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Tottenham Hotspur went into the final match of the season against Everton still fighting for their Premier League survival. They needed just one point to all but clinch their spot in next season’s top flight due to their superior goal differential over West Ham United.

The Bayern Munich loanee had five shots in the first half. His fourth shot hit the post but rebounded straight back to him. Palhinha was able to poke the ball past the Everton keeper. Goal-line technology had to be used to confirm that the ball went just over the line. The goal put Spurs up 1-0 before halftime and held up in the second half as the match’s only goal. Despite West Ham winning 3-0 just five miles away from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Spurs’ win sends them down to the Championship after 14 years in the top flight.

Palhinha ended with five league goals this season — the last two were winners within the last five matches, both of which yielded three huge points to help Spurs stay up. Spurs have shown interest in keeping Palhinha in North London next season but nothing has been decided. Where do you think Palhinha will end up next season?

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…

Speaking on the Transfer Insider podcast, I explained: “Tottenham aren’t planning to let Vuskovic leave. He’s been one of the standout defenders in the Bundesliga for Hamburg. Tottenham see him as a key part of their plans for the future whatever league that is in, obviously they want that to be in the Premier League.

“He’s under contract until 2030 and Tottenham are preparing to offer him a new and improved deal to fend off growing interest from Europe’s top clubs. You’ve got the likes of Bayern Munich, Man United, Chelsea and Liverpool all looking at Vuskovic. Spurs wanted for him to get regular first team football ready to come back and challenge for a place in the Tottenham side and that’s what I fully expect them to do next season. Spurs have no plans to lose him.”

Alongside both Bayern Munich and Liverpool, a number of elite European clubs are believed to be keeping tabs on Vuskovic’s performances this season.

His impressive form at Hamburg means despite Spurs’ reluctance to sell, there are no shortage of suitors for the centre-back, and clubs could look to lure him away.