After a 2-2 draw at Hertha, Bayern interim manager Willy Sagnol believes the team is no longer the strongest in Germany.
Mats Hummels has said that his bosses at Bayern Munich have asked him for the lowdown on his former coach Jurgen Klopp as the German champions step up their search for a new manager.
Hummels, 28, won the Bundesliga with Klopp at Borussia Dortmund in consecutive seasons in 2011 and 2012. The central defender progressed through all of Bayern's youth teams but made just a solitary league appearance in his first spell before opting to join Dortmund -- initially on loan and then permanently in 2009.
Following eight-and-a-half years at their biggest rival, he rejoined the Bundesliga champions on a five-year deal last summer for a fee of €35 million.
Liverpool boss Klopp has been linked with the vacant position at the Allianz Arena, but former Dortmund coach Thomas Tuchel and Hoffenheim's Julian Nagelsmann have also been linked to the vacancy left by Carlo Ancelotti, who was sacked following Bayern's 3-0 Champions League loss to Paris Saint-Germain.
Mats Hummels won the Bundesliga twice at Dortmund with Jurgen Klopp as manager.
"I'm following Jurgen Klopp really closely because of the seven years we had when he coached me at Borussia Dortmund," he told Sky Sports. "Regarding Munich, they talked to me and asked me something and I said my opinion."
Hummels revealed he was happy to vouch for Klopp's qualities as a prospective manager but insisted he was in the dark over Ancelotti's successor.
"But I don't know if Klopp is the most likely candidate for the job, or if there is one or two others. I have no idea.
"I will be as curious as all of us, reading newspapers to see what's going to happen."
Hummels denied on Monday that he had any involvement in the sacking of Ancelotti, saying he was not a "Kingslayer" after reports suggested he was one of five players who had turned against the Italian.
Mark Lovell covers Bayern Munich for ESPN FC. Follow him on Twitter: @LovellLowdown.
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Source: espn.co.uk