Germany's World Cup preparations are heating up, and a major goalkeeping storyline is emerging behind the scenes at the DFB. According to reports from Kicker.de, head coach Julian Nagelsmann is seriously considering including veteran shot-stopper Manuel Neuer in his final 23-man squad for the tournament.

While Nagelsmann has been cautious publicly, internal discussions about Neuer's potential return have been far more intense than the coach lets on. The 38-year-old Bayern Munich legend, who recently agreed to a new contract with the Bavarian giants, has been in regular contact with Nagelsmann, and both parties insist their relationship is strong—despite past tensions stemming from the coach's decision to dismiss Neuer's longtime goalkeeping coach, Toni Tapalovic, back in January 2023.

The DFB submitted a preliminary 55-man squad to FIFA on Monday, which included at least five goalkeepers. While the full list hasn't been made public, it's widely believed that Neuer's name appears alongside Oliver Baumann, Alexander Nübel, Finn Dahmen, and Jonas Urbig. This provisional roster is a key step toward finalizing the squad that will represent Germany on the world's biggest stage.

With the World Cup now just around the corner, Nagelsmann is set to announce his final 23-man selection on Thursday, May 21. For fans and pundits alike, the big question remains: will one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time be between the posts for Germany once again? Stay tuned—this decision could shape the team's entire tournament campaign.