Summer Transfer Window 2013 (General)

[Reece]

raphael honigstein @honigstein 1m
Dortmund have just confirmed it. Official: Götze to Bayern

[Sarb]

I'm glad he isn't going to Arsenal. 37m Euros. Cheaper than we got Carroll for.

[Captain Stu]

Bayern's team is already incredible, all these supposed new players are just making it ridiculous!!

I'm glad he isn't going to Arsenal. 37m Euros. Cheaper than we got Carroll for.

[Sarb]

I don't think they'll be buying Suarez now though, which is good

[Arn]

I could see Robben leaving ahead of Shakira - Robben is a lazy workshy little prick and I just don't see him fitting in with Pep's philosophy.

Ribery will probably also leave. No way that Pep will allow a player that do things like he do off the pitch to stay.

If you don't behave off the pitch then you won't play for Pep.

Gomez will probably also leave.

[Sarb]

Totally forget Shaqiri was there. He is B-Rod's type of player

[Captain Stu]

Ribery will probably also leave. No way that Pep will allow a player that do things like he do off the pitch to stay.

If you don't behave off the pitch then you won't play for Pep.

Gomez will probably also leave.

I don't rate Ribery at all, such a disappointing player and they'll get bucketloads more out of Gotze.

Sounds like Gomez is off to be replaced by Lewandowski.

[Chazza]

I don't rate Ribery at all, such a disappointing player and they'll get bucketloads more out of Gotze.

Sounds like Gomez is off to be replaced by Lewandowski.

German journalist on talksport has just said Lewandowski to Bayern is done.

[Captain Stu]

German journalist on talksport has just said Lewandowski to Bayern is done.

Was it Raph Honigstein?

[Chazza]

Was it Raph Honigstein?

Manfred Boiggman (sp) who is apparently a commentator for the Bundesliga coverage.

[Captain Stu]

Manfred Boiggman (sp) who is apparently a commentator for the Bundesliga coverage.

Aahh, never heard of him but that's been doing the rounds for weeks, deal already done and just not announcing it because Dortmund fans would be furious.. even more so now I think.

[Gingawaria]

I don't rate Ribery at all, such a disappointing player and they'll get bucketloads more out of Gotze.

Sounds like Gomez is off to be replaced by Lewandowski.

Ribery is up there as one of the most over-rated players in world football IMO. I don't think I've ever seen him do anything remotely impressive.

[Mostar]

Interesting timing of that announcement especially as there is still a chance for Bayern and Borussia to meet in CL final.

[Chazza]

Interesting timing of that announcement especially as there is still a chance for Bayern and Borussia to meet in CL final.

Probably to divert attention from this.

FC Bayern's Uli Hoeness criticised over tax by Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has expressed disappointment after it emerged that the president of Bayern Munich football club faces an investigation for alleged tax evasion.

Uli Hoeness is reported to have contacted the German authorities himself about a Swiss bank account.

Prosecutors have now launched an investigation.

Mr Hoeness is a former European champion and World Cup winner with West Germany.

Mrs Merkel's spokesman, Steffen Seibert, said: "Many people are now disappointed in Uli Hoeness, among them the Chancellor."

He said the sense of disappointment was all the greater as Mr Hoeness "stood for so much that is positive", including support for the integration of immigrants.

The Bayern Munich president is refusing to comment further on the specifics of the case, though he criticised what he called "excesses" in some media coverage of his affairs.

"As you can imagine, there's a lot I want to say, but I have to hand my homework in to the authorities first," he told Sueddeutsche Zeitung.

Capital gains
Mr Hoeness, 61, told Focus weekly at the weekend that he had informed the tax authorities in January about a Swiss bank account and was co-operating with tax officials.

Neither he nor officials have disclosed how much money is involved, but German media suggest he deposited millions of euros in a Zurich-based account over 10 years.

He is said to have failed to pay capital gains tax.

Focus quoted Mr Hoeness as saying he had originally planned to take advantage of a proposed German-Swiss tax agreement.

The accord was designed to allow German tax evaders with undeclared assets in Swiss accounts to confess, escape legal action and remain anonymous in return for coming clean.

Under the proposals, which were put forward by Mrs Merkel's centre-right government, those who admitted to undeclared Swiss assets would pay a one-off tax of between 21 and 41%.

However, the opposition Social Democrats and Greens defeated the measure in the upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, saying it would provide cover for tax dodgers.

"Mr Hoeness and many others expected the agreement to be signed, they would keep their anonymity and their behaviour would be virtually retrospectively legalised," Peer Steinbrueck, the Social Democrats' candidate for chancellor told ARD TV.

Germany and Switzerland have been embroiled in a long-running dispute over the estimated 180-200bn euros (£145-160bn) of German assets concealed in Switzerland.

It was hoped the agreement, which was due to come into effect in January, would have put the issue to rest.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-22254846

[Bender]

And Klopp, speaking ahead of Dortmund's Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid on Wednesday, revealed that Guardiola's imminent arrival at Bayern was key to the transfer.

Klopp said: "Gotze was the player Guardiola wished to sign.
"So if it's anyone's fault it's mine. I cannot make myself 15cm smaller and learn Spanish. Gotze wants to work with this extraordinary coach that is Guardiola.
"I cannot preach football of quick transitions and now start playing Tiki Taka."

BBC