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Manchester City have, according to some esteemed pundits, a squad capable of rivalling that of FC Barcelona, and are many others’ bet to go all the way in the Champions League this season. They have only dropped two points from six games this season in the Premier League and scored goals for fun. Bayern Munich possess European pedigree in abundance and reached the final in 2010, eventually losing to Jose Mourinho’s treble-winning Inter side. This season the Bavarians have started the domestic season in imperious form, winning their last six matches without conceding a goal, while they confidently dispatched Villarreal in their opening Champions League group game. As Roberto Mancini’s assembled millions travel to Munich for matchday two of their first campaign in Europe’s elite competition for 35 years, I decided to reflect on the massive differences between how these two clubs are run.

Let’s start with Bayern. FC Bayern München are Germany’s most successful professional club. They have been Bundesliga Champions an astonishing 21 times, since it was formed in 1963, which, needless to say, is a record; they have also been German Cup winners a record 15 times; and the club has produced many of the German national team which has been so successful for, more or less, the last 50-odd years. Franz Beckenbauer, Paul Breitner, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Lothar Matthäus and, more recently, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Philipp Lahm, are just a few of the national team stars to have contributed to Bayern’s domestic and European success down the ages. The club has, by virtue of its historical success, accumulated a fan base which has close to 150,000 official, fee-paying members and nearly 2,500 organised fan clubs, translating to roughly 10 million supporters in Germany alone. Geography also plays its part in making FC Bayern the best-supported and richest club in Germany. Bavaria is the largest state in Germany, and FC Bayern the biggest club based in its capital, the supremely wealthy, affluent and occasionally snobbish Munich. FC Bayern are one of the world’s richest clubs, and maintain such levels of success because of its enormous turnover.

Manchester City’s tradition pales by comparison. Their FA Cup final victory against Stole City in May ended a 35-year wait for a trophy, a period in which their fans were constantly taunted by that infamous banner at Old Trafford. Nevertheless, following their takeover by Sheik Mansour, the half-brother to the current President of the United Arab Emirates, they have just embarked upon a similar story of success. Backed by Qatari billions, they look set to sustain the success of winning last season’s FA Cup and qualifying for this season’s Champions League.

German clubs have often been considered as the template for others to follow to make a club financially secure, and Bayern are a model of financial prudency. The club’s finances are managed by its parent company FC Bayern München, the Chairman of which is former player Karr-Heinz Rummenigge, also the current European Club Association Chairman. The AG (Aktionsgesellschaft) is partly owned by the club’s two main sponsors – Adidas and Audi – while the rest is owned privately by club investors, shareholders and members. This section of the AG is FC Bayern München e. V., short for Eingetragener Verein, (‘registered club’). The club is run as a joint stock company, where the shares are not traded on the stock exchange but owned privately by the club’s investors – in this case Adidas, Audi and the levy-paying club members.

Having shares which are privately-owned mean they are less vulnerable to takeover and speculation, and because they aren’t reliant on any one investor, Bayern Munich are far less likely to go bust than Manchester City, for example. They, by contrast, are in effect owned by the Abu Dhabi government, which subsidises their massive debts. If the Abu Dhabi government walked away tomorrow, they would leave City with massive liabilities, such as player contracts and license fees, without the requisite revenue to meet them. They may also leave them with debts, depending on whether they have written them off or not. Utterly contrary to Bayern Munich, Man City have no solid foundations. If Sheik Mansour went bust – let’s suppose for argument’s sake that you could use water in cars and the value of oil plummeted, or he just got bored with Manchester City – then the club will go bankrupt too. The club either need to start raising their own revenue or temper their extravagant spending.

There is a ‘50+1’ rule for clubs in Germany which says that a minimum of 51% of a club must b owned by members. Bayern have extended this considerably – minus the stocks owned by Adidas and Audi, the club is close to 85% privately-owned. Not only that, that the majority of club shareholders are fans themselves, which ensures that they have a huge say in how the club is run, and can prevent it being mismanaged. Indeed, the fact that Germany clubs charge lower ticket prices in comparison to other top European leagues, and that live league football can be viewed for free on terrestrial TV (for 2. Bundesliga games at least) can be directly attributed to fans having more of a voice. Bayern Munich has employed this strategy for years, and continues, along with every other side in the Bundesliga, to turn a profit. That is a situation that is utterly foreign to clubs in the Premier League, where several of them, not just Man City, are patronised by wealthy individuals.

Because FCB has so many separate investors and fee-paying members, this allows them to raise sums of money that dwarf those raised by smaller Bundesliga clubs. But they are still able to comply with the German Football League’s rules on spending and debts, an issue over which Manchester City, among other clubs, have been criticised in recent years and months, and which UEFA President Michel Platini is seeking to address with the Financial Fair Play (FFP) rules, phase three of which comes into force from next season onwards. This states that clubs may only spend (on transfer fees and player wages) what they make in revenues (gate receipts, sponsorship deals and TV incomes), or less. The intent is to make sure clubs are run according to a financially sustainable business model, in other words, at a profit. FCB has been running at a profit since the early 2000s, and it’s a principle which the clubs adheres to vehemently. President Uli Hoeness recently said in a TV interview that he had no desire to win the Champions League by ‘posting a €100 million loss.’

Indeed, recently there has been some ruffling of feathers between these two sides regarding the FFP rules. Rummenigge remarked at a meeting of the European Club Association last month that a club which could comply with the new regulations, yet was still losing €120m per year, ‘had to have a trick up its sleeve.’ He was referring to Manchester City, and specifically to the sponsorship deal which the club had just made with Etihad Airlines, reportedly worth £350m over a ten-year period. Arsene Wenger and Kenny Dalglish had also expressed their suspicions that City were scheming to flout the rules and protect their financial advantage over other clubs. As such a deal falls into the category of ‘revenues raised through sponsorship deals’, the club would be able to ‘spend’ what money they make from it. Effectively, they could still offer hugely-inflated prices for players and offer them hugely-inflated wages, much like they have done in the last three seasons. It’s through this monstrous sponsorship deal that they’re hoping to raise their own revenue rather than borrowing to sustain their huge spending, which I mentioned above.

City’s other long-term plan is to eventually remove the need for buying world-class players by producing them themselves. This was seen last week with the unveiling of a new £100m project to build an academy and youth development centre – the Etihad Campus – next to the current Etihad Stadium. Yet to be approved by Manchester City Council, the complex will cater for up to 400 youth players, a smaller proportion of whom are to be schooled on site. Whatever you might think of the possibly sly way in which they plan to get around the rules on club spending, Manchester City, through this academy project, are aiming to do what Bayern Munich, and other European clubs, have managed: to school home-grown talent for the senior team and, according to football development executive Patrick Vieira, the national team. It might take ten or even twenty years before City or England begin to see the benefits of such a plan, but, as an England fan at least, I’m prepared to wait. Germany made youth academies mandatory for all Bundesliga clubs after the national team’s disastrous performance at Euro 2000, and their national team is now streets ahead of England, but that’s for another time.

So, on one hand, you have FC Bayern München, a club steeped in tradition, with, admittedly, very deep coffers, but ‘deep’ in relation to their past success. While on the other, you have a modestly-sized club, according to its tradition, but with pockets deep enough to rival and even surpass the spending power of Real Madrid and Barcelona. On the field, both teams have a superb squad of players, and will both fancy their chances of reaching the latter stages of the competition. But I know who I’ll be supporting when I take my seat at the Allianz Arena tonight.

FC Bayern München vs. Manchester City FC – Tuesday, 27th September, 7.45pm, Allianz Arena, Munich.

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Nobody says they’re gutted anymore, there’s no honest display of disappointment. That just wouldn’t do would it? Saying you’re gutted that England have got knocked out of a competition at any level leads to ridicule. Say it on Twitter or similar and you find yourself surrounded by self-styled more knowledgeable people pointing fingers and sniggering.

What did you expect? Weren’t you aware as a country we’re inherently useless at football? No technical ability at all. Only able to produce players who wouldn’t look out of place in a John Smith’s ‘Ave It advert. The whole system needs ripping up and starting again. Look at the French/Germans/Dutch/Spanish, only one of whom made it to these Under 21 finals, and copy what they do, they’re much better at this level of football and it shows in their senior teams.

Maybe. Maybe not. Prior to Spain winning the Euros and World Cup, they were pretty much considered massive underachievers on the international stage. Just after the turn of the millennium they were not held up as the example to follow, yet must have been doing the right things at that time if the harvest which followed is anything to judge by. I cannot recall commentators or self-styled connoisseurs of international football screaming we should copy them during that period.

Indeed at that time the country to follow in development was France. They’d just done the same as Spain in winning the Euros and World Cup. They had the answer, they knew what they were doing yet when the players like Zidane exited stage right there was nobody to replace them. Are players like Zidane then, Xavi and Iniesta now, products of national systems or gems who come along every now and then? Can we change English football to make a Zidane?

The French system at Clairefontaine is often held up as a major reason they did so well and the lack of an English centre of equal standing is derided. Yet the French team who won the World Cup had not one graduate of the centre in it. Thierry Henry was due to come onto the field but missed out, still getting a deserved medal. Yet Henry had only been at the academy for the shortest possible time. Recent graduates of the system you’ll have heard of include the Premier League’s Gabriel Obertan, Hatem Ben Arfa and Abou Diaby, players of varying ability and application but probably never going to hit the heights of Henry. Marvin Martin, the excellently named and highly regarded newcomer to the France team never went near the place. Indeed he wasn’t included in any France national set-up until Under 21 level.

Franck Ribery, Karim Benzema, Jeremy Menez, Yoann Gourcuff and Samir Nasri are probably going to be the stars of the France team for the next few years yet not one of them went to Clairefontaine. So if we were to copy that academy it’s highly unlikely it would revolutionise the national team. Yet still a national centre modelled on the French system is deemed essential by many.

The system held in highest regard right now is Barcelona’s La Masia. Not a national centre but one designed to produce players for a club, in turn providing the backbone of the national side. We simply can’t copy La Masia with the current structure in English football. For example, Andres Iniesta is from Alabcete and he joined La Masia at the tender age of twelve. As it stands a youngster must live within a ninety minute drive of a club they become affiliated with, David Beckham would have been unable to join Manchester United under the current system. It can be easier to recruit players from half way around the world than from the British Isles and this of course isn’t going to help the national team.

That regressive rule is likely to be scrapped for the start of the 2012-2013 season as is the rule limiting the number of hours a young player can be trained to 2000 between the ages of 10 and 18. These changes will help, I have no doubt about that but it will also see the very best prospects going to the biggest clubs and therefore struggling for game time when breaking through.

It’s all very well having great prospects like Danny Welbeck, Daniel Sturridge and Phil Jones but will those three be getting regular games with their parent clubs next year? That’s where we seem to be falling back. The Premier League is so competitive that to push a youngster into a team is increasingly difficult for the top clubs. Players are often sent out on loan which gets them games, usually, but also removes them from a continual development at the club they’ve been structured through. Reserve level football in England is of a low standard and the gulf between that the Premier League is huge. Here we can learn again from Spain and also Germany.

FC Bayern Munich II played in the third level of German football last year, real competitive football against full teams. It’s not a walk in the park, indeed they were relegated but it’s great experience and a world apart from reserve football in this country. Phillip Lahm, Bastian Schweinsteiger and Thomas Muller all played for the side as indeed did Owen Hagreaves. In Spain the standard is even higher, Barcelona B play in the Segunda Division and last year came third behind Betis and Rayo Vallecano. To put the level into perspective they finished ahead of teams like Celta Vigo and Valladoid. Xavi, Carles Puyol, Andres Iniesta, Lionel Messi and a whole host of others all benefitted from playing for Barcelona B. Real Madrid Castilla play in the league below and though not quite as good a production line, partly due to the club’s international buying ethos, have produced players recently themselves such as Valencia’s much wanted Juan Mata.

The current system in English football just cannot compete with this; the reserve standard is just not high enough. All isn’t well in English football and I’m not sticking my head in the sand, putting my fingers in my ears and belting out Jerusalem to block out any negatives, but we need to focus on actual reasons rather than fashions.

We don’t need to totally change the style of English football, we just need to give enough of the talented prospects the very best chance of getting to the highest level. This will take changes which are much more in depth than a national academy or a change in style. It will take changes which look like they’re there to benefit the top clubs but will in turn help the national side.

It’s whether English football is willing to make those steps that is in question, not our nation’s ability to play football.

You can follow Annie Eaves on Twitter at @AnnieEaves

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FIFA have revealed the 55 man shortlist for the prestigious FIFA/FIFPro World XI 2010 award, and Tottenham Hotspur’s flying winger Gareth Bale is on it.

Although Bale upped his game enormously in the second half of last season, it is surely his stellar performances in the UEFA Champions League – particularly those against Inter Milan – that impressed the judges.

Nevertheless, the most likely to feature in the XI for the award will be probably be amongst those players who performed well at the World Cup in South Africa.

Members of the triumphant Spain team, such as Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and David Villa will certainly be in the running, while Wesley Sneijder won everything going for his club Inter Milan – only missing out at international level in the final for the Netherlands.

Of course, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi continue to dazzle and will be in the running too, but the inclusion of players such as Ronaldinho, Dimitar Berbatov and Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a surprise, while Wayne Rooney hasn’t been particularly amazing since around March.

Even more ridiculously though, Real Madrid defender Pepe didn’t even play any first team football in 2010 until September. He must have had an insanely good two months.

What do you think?

The shortlist in full:

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Italy, Juventus FC), Iker Casillas (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Petr Cech (Czech Republic, Chelsea FC), Julio Cesar (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Edwin Van Der Sar (Netherlands, Manchester United FC)

Defenders: Daniel Alves (Brazil, FC Barcelona), Gareth Bale (Wales, Tottenham Hotspur), Michel Bastos (Brazil, Olympique Lyonnais), Ashley Cole (England, Chelsea FC), Patrice Evra (France, Manchester United FC), Rio Ferdinand (England, Manchester United FC), Philipp Lahm (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Lucio (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Maicon (Brazil, F.C. Internazionale), Marcelo (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Alessandro Nesta (Italy, AC Milan), Pepe (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Gerard Pique (Spain, FC Barcelona), Carles Puyol (Spain, FC Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Walter Samuel (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), John Terry (England, Chelsea FC), Thiago Silva (Brazil, AC Milan), Nemanja Vidic (Serbia, Manchester United FC), Javier Zanetti (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale)

Midfielders: Esteban Cambiasso (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), Michael Essien (Ghana, Chelsea FC), Cesc Fabregas (Spain, Arsenal FC), Steven Gerrard (England, Liverpool FC), Andres Iniesta (Spain, FC Barcelona), Ricardo Kaka (Brazil, Real Madrid C.F.), Frank Lampard (England, Chelsea FC), Javier Mascherano (Argentina, FC Barcelona), Thomas Muller (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Mesut Ozil (Germany, Real Madrid C.F.), Andrea Pirlo (Italy, AC Milan), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany, FC Bayern Munchen), Wesley Sneijder (Netherlands, F.C. Internazionale), Xabi Alonso (Spain, Real Madrid C.F.), Xavi (Spain, FC Barcelona)

Forwards: Dimitar Berbatov (Bulgaria, Manchester United FC), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast, Chelsea FC), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon, F.C. Internazionale), Diego Forlán (Uruguay, Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuain (Argentina, Real Madrid C.F.), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Sweden, AC Milan), Lionel Messi (Argentina, FC Barcelona), Diego Milito (Argentina, F.C. Internazionale), Arjen Robben (Netherlands, FC Bayern München), Ronaldinho (Brazil, AC Milan), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal, Real Madrid C.F.), Wayne Rooney (England, Manchester United FC), Carlos Tevez (Argentina, Manchester City FC), Fernando Torres (Spain, Liverpool FC), David Villa (Spain, FC Barcelona)

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English players paid the price for their dreadful performance at the World Cup as they were completely overlooked in the shortlist for the Fifa Ballon d’Or.

Instead, world champions Spain dominated the contenders as seven of their finals squad were included among the nominees for the prestigious award.

The winners will be revealed in Zurich on 10th January, with Andres Iniesta, who netted the winning goal in the World Cup final in July, on the shortlist alongside Barcelona team-mates Xavi, Carles Puyol and David Villa.

Spain captain Iker Casillas and his Real Madrid colleague Xabi Alonso were also included, along with Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas was one of three Premier League players on the 23-man list of nominees. The others were Chelsea’s Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba and Sunderland’s Ghana frontman Asamoah Gyan.

Barcelona’s Argentina forward Lionel Messiand Brazil right-back Daniel Alves, Atletico Madrid forward Diego Forlan – who scored five goals at the World Cup and received the Golden Ball award – and Real Madrid pair Cristiano Ronaldo and Mesut Ozil made up 11 players nominated from La Liga.

World Player of the Year nominees:
Xabi Alonso (Spain), Daniel Alves (Brazil), Iker Casillas (Spain), Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal), Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast), Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Diego Forlan (Uruguay), Asamoah Gyan (Ghana), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Julio Cesar (Brazil), Miroslav Klose (Germany), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Maicon (Brazil), Lionel Messi (Argentina), Thomas Muller (Germany), Mesut Ozil (Germany), Carles Puyol (Spain), Arjen Robben (Holland), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (Holland), David Villa (Spain) and Xavi (Spain).

World Coach of the Year nominees:
Carlo Ancelotti (Chelsea), Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Sir Alex Ferguson (Manchester United), Pep Guardiola (Barcelona), Joachim Low (Germany), Jose Mourinho (Inter Milan/Real Madrid), Oscar Tabarez (Uruguay), Louis Van Gaal (Bayern Munich), Bert van Marwijk (Holland) and Arsene Wenger (Arsenal). (Sky Sports)

Granted it is clearly obvious that England had a poor World Cup but remember this is based on performances by players for both club and country so with that in mind surely one Englishman deserved to make this list? For instance Miroslav Klose is on this list purely down to his undoubted success at the World Cup but in club football he had a very average time of it, scoring just six goals in 38 matches in all competitions.

I would also query the inclusion of a player like Dani Alves who didn’t stand out for Barcelona and had a poor World Cup with Brazil, so why does he get a nod and a player like Ashley Cole does not? Also I would have thought that Carlos Tevez deserved a nod. This list reads like a collection of the ‘Usual Suspects’ and the majority of these players will also be named regardless of actual achievements on the pitch.

That said it seems highly likely that Andres Iniesta, Diego Forlan, Wesley Sneijder and Xavi are likely to be the players fighting for the title as they have all have had major success with both club and country are undoubtedly in the form of their lives.

Oddly then of the ten managers named three are from Premier League teams but for some reason their successes have little to do with their English contingent?

Don’t get me wrong it has clearly not been the greatest year for the English national team but that doesn’t mean that their players did not do their bit for their clubs.

Who do you think is worthy of being named World Player of the Year?

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Chelsea are planning an audacious move for Bayern Munich right back Philipp Lahm. Carlo Ancelotti is known to be a huge admirer of the German international and is known to have harboured hopes of capturing the Bayern Munich man this summer.

The 26 year old has plied his trade at the Bavarian club since the age of 11, bar a two year period on loan to Stuttgart, and may well be ready for a new challenge, especially as his side appear to be in free fall this term having collected just two wins thus far this season.

Ancelotti has been linked with moves for replacement right backs despite the consistent displays from Serbian international Branislav Ivanovic. The Stamford Bridge boss is hoping to tempt Lahm to west London with a significant pay increase but knows that Louis Van Gaal will fight tooth and nail to keep the pint sized attack minded wide man.

Philipp Lahm can operate either as a standard right back or in a more advanced wing back role and can also play out on the left. A move for the vastly experienced Munich born star could cost as much as £24m but with Roman Abramovich’s backing such a fee would not represent a problem for the Premier League champions.

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Manchester United have rekindled their interest in Bayern Munich right-back Philip Lahm, 26, but a deal could be complicated for the Germany captain.
Bayern, who have made an approach for Ajax right-back Gregory van der Wiel, also have an interest in United’s Ji-Sung Park and may ask for cash plus the player. (Daily Mail)

This is a bid that would surely tempt Sir Alex Ferguson. Yes Ji-Sung Park is a consistent Old Trafford performer but he is by no means a first team regular and if he could be used as a make weight to land the vastly experienced right back Philipp Lahm then surely the Manchester United boss would jump at the chance.

The 26 year old Bayern Munich man and current German national captain has been there and done it both at club and international level and would be something of a coup signing if Ferguson could bring him to the Premier League club.

If its true that the German outfit are lining up a move for impressive Dutch youngster Gregory van der Wiel then it would leave £18m rated Lahm having to think about his future at the Bundesliga champions. The pint sized attack mind full back has spent the past five seasons as a regular in the Allianz Arena first team but if indeed Louis Van Gaal opts for a move for the Ajax talent then a bid from Manchester United may well be accepted.

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Germany supporters will be hoping that Bayern Munich wing back Philipp Lahm can continue his fine club form into this summer’s World Cup campaign because right now he is at the top of his game and can at times be almost unplayable.

Excellent in defence its when he is pushing forward that he is most effective. The impish wide man has great control of the ball regardless of whether he is under pressure or taking his time picking out a colleague. Now in his fifth season of his second spell at the Allianz Arena the former Stuttgart man is forming a fantastic partnership with Arjen Robben on the right hand side and Joachim Loew will be hoping he can do likewise with whomever is placed in front of him on the international scene.

Lahm burst onto the scene during the 2006 World Cup in his homeland and the Munich born man will be keen to prove he can do likewise in South Africa.

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Manchester United are being linked with a possible January move for Bayern Munich full back Philipp Lahm.

The 25-year-old defender is unsettled in the German capital, and was fined for publicly questioning manager Louis van Gaal earlier in the season.

The German powerhouse is struggling to keep pace in the Bundesliga, finding themselves in eighth position after twelve games. Bayern are also struggling to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League.

If that goes against Munich, then Sir Alex Ferguson could be ready to move for the international defender to strengthen a defence that is struggling to deal with injuries. A bid in the region of £15 million is expected when the winter window opens. (Give Me Football)

Given the fact that Louis Van Gaal is not only losing ground in the Bundesliga race he is also seemingly losing the dressing room at the Allianz Arena, having fallen out with both Philipp Lahm and Luca Toni in recent weeks, it does seem fairly plausible that the German international wing back may be open to a move to the Premier League.

The 26 year old left sided player is a top notch performer with vast amounts of experience who could well be a good addition to the Old Trafford starting line up. Having represented Bayern Munich since age 12 Lahm may feel this is a good time to look for a new challenge. The Bavarian club finds themselves in eighth place in the domestic league and on the verge of elimination from the Champions League and the German giants are also losing their grip on another top performer in the shape of Franck Ribery, who is also linked with a move to the Premier League champions.

There may be some who would feel that the left side of the United defence is not the problem area given that they have the excellent Patrice Evra to call upon, but perhaps Sir Alex Ferguson is looking to change things at the back and a move for Lahm would be an intelligent one.

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The Rumour

With Gary Neville looking like injury may have got the better of him (and perhaps Wes Brown too) and John O’Shea remaining a better bet as back-up across the defence, United may feel a little too reliant on the teenage Rafael da Silva. While hugely promising, the youngster perhaps still lacks the physical presence for a whole season. An experienced candidate could therefore be Philip Lahm, currently at Bayern Munich. Capable on both flanks, the German international may be available for around £10m.

The Source: (The Independent)

The Analysis

Right now it appears that Man United have at least two very talented international level players for each position in their team but you can never have enough is clearly the mantra of Sir Alex Ferguson as he gets set to do battle for a potential successive Champions League trophy.

25 year old Lahm is an excellent wing back who is equally adept at going forward as he is dealing with the opposition attacks and it has been reported that he may well be about to call time on the club he has has been at since he was 11 (albeit including a two year spell on loan at Vfb Stuttgart). Bayern Munich have had a tough season and Jurgen Klinsmann lost his job at the helm after the club were brushed aside with ease by Barcelona in the Champions League and lost their Bundesliga crown to Wolfsburg.

The German international will be looking to secure a move to a side he believes can offer him a way back to his best and he may well see that as a dream that would be best realised outside his native league.

The Likelihood

Lahm to Man United: Could well happen.

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With his contract coming into its last season Bayern were looking to tie down the 24-year-old international, but he was seemingly unimpressed by Bayern’s ambition.

Lahm told German magazine Stern:

I’ve played for two years with Stuttgart, I’m finishing my third year at Bayern, the top German club, so the logical progression is to go abroad.

There are in Europe a handful of clubs who have a financial power superior to that of Bayern. Their teams play with more rhythm and assurance than Bayern.

Seemingly doubting Bayern’s ability to once again challenge for the Champions League, which they won in 2001, Lahm has alerted Europe’s top clubs, including Barcelona, Manchester United and Chelsea, three he has been linked with in the past.

Chances are there will now be a cut-price bidding war this summer between Europe’s top clubs for Lahm.