Wenger in talks with Bayern

BERLIN - Arsene Wenger is reportedly in talks with Bayern Munich to potentially become its new head coach while Ralf Rangnick, another possible candidate, is said to not be interested.

Wenger, 70, gave an evasive answer when broadcaster beIn Sports directly asked him about working at Bayern, which fired Niko Kovac on Sunday in the wake of a 5-1 drubbing at Eintracht Frankfurt.

According to German daily Bild, talks have taken place between Wenger and Bayern, with club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge leading the search to find Kovac's replacement.

Wenger, who speaks fluent German, coached Arsenal from October 1996 until May 2018 and recently said he misses some aspects of coaching.

While Wenger has enjoyed his year away from soccer, the satisfaction of winning matches and preparing players is "something you miss, of course," added the Frenchman.

Meanwhile, Rangnick, currently head of sport and development at Red Bull and previously sports director at Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, has reportedly withdrawn his name from consideration.

"Ralf is not available. We don't believe that what he is all about is currently being sought by Bayern," Rangnick's manager, Marc Kosicke, told Bild.

"That's why it doesn't make sense to hold concrete talks."

Rangnick joins Ajax coach Erik ten Hag and Paris Saint-Germain boss Thomas Tuchel by stating they will not leave their current jobs this season.

On Tuesday, Bayern president Uli Hoeness said the club expects to name a new coach in time for its Nov 23 trip to Fortuna Duesseldorf.

Former Real Madrid and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho and ex-Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri have also been linked to the job by German media.

Former Germany assistant coach Hansi Flick took over as interim coach for Bayern's 2-0 Champions League home win over Olympiacos on Wednesday.

Flick will also oversee Saturday's Bundesliga visit of second-place Borussia Dortmund.

Bayern currently sits fourth in the Bundesliga standings, four points adrift of leader Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Agence France - presse