Report: Bayern Munich's James Rodriguez Transfer 'Unlikely', Luka Jovic Targeted

Bayern Munich are reportedly unlikely to sign Real Madrid loanee James Rodriguez on a permanent transfer and will instead move for Eintracht Frankfurt star Luka Jovic.

On Thursday, Kicker (h/t Goal) reported Bayern would prefer a move for Jovic, 20, as they don't want to pay the €42 million (£37 million) it would take to sign Rodriguez

The Serbian forward has 12 goals in 15 appearances this term and is the Bundesliga's top scorer with nine, which puts him alongside some of the top scorers in Europe's biggest leagues, per WhoScored.com:

Five of Jovic's strikes came in a 7-1 routing of promoted Fortuna Dusseldorf in October, and he's soared to nine goals despite only netting in four matches.

FOX Sports posted footage of the haul (U.S. only):

Commentator Kevin Hatchard lauded the youngster's display:

Jovic moved to Germany on a two-year loan from Benfica in June 2017, with an option to buy included in the deal, and has scored 21 goals in 42 appearances. He was also selected for Serbia's 2018 FIFA World Cup squad, though he only made one brief appearance off the bench in the final group-stage game against Brazil before his country was eliminated.

Rodriguez, 27, is a different player altogether, and so it is unlikely Jovic is being eyed as a replacement. It could be that Bayern are wary of devoting such significant funds to a player who hasn't fit manager Niko Kovac's plans this season and is seven years Jovic's senior.

Real's attacking midfielder is in the second year of a two-season loan in Bavaria and impressed under Carlo Ancelotti and Jupp Heynckes last term. He started in 30 of his 39 appearances and contributed eight goals and 14 assists.

This season, Rodriguez has scored three times in eight Bundesliga games but is yet to record an assist.

Any chances of a permanent move were dented again on Wednesday, when Bayern announced Rodriguez would miss the rest of 2018 after suffering a "partial tear of the lateral collateral ligament in his left knee":

There have been suggestions of tension growing between Rodriguez and certain members of the Bayern hierarchy of late too. 

According to Bild (h/t AS), Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic approached the playmaker after he was an unused substitute against Mainz in October, when the player is said to have left muttering: "You're mistaken."

What's more, Bayern have need to supply star striker Robert Lewandowski, 30, with more cover, and Jovic could serve as a smarter use of their funds.