Germany and Bayern Munich star Joshua Kimmich could become one of the most in-demand free agents in world football this summer if contract talks are not revived
Bayern Munich have withdrawn a contract offer to Joshua Kimmich, it has been claimed, with Liverpool and Manchester City potentially primed to pounce.
Bayern have been in discussions with German international Kimmich for some time. The versatile 30-year-old has spent the last decade in Munich after joining from RB Leipzig, winning eight Bundesliga titles and one Champions League.
Kimmich, who has 97 caps for Germany, was linked with a Premier League switch last summer. He ended up staying put ta the time, but could well be an appealing prospect as a free agent.
Liverpool cooled on a January move for Kimmich, seemingly due to the form of Ryan Gravenberch, while City moved for Nico Gonzalez in the same window. Kimmich can play at right-back as well as in central midfield, though, so a summer move from either team can’t be ruled out.
According to BILD, Bayern chiefs have told Kimmich the offer previously put in front of him is no longer valid. He had reportedly been after a slight increase on his current wages of just under £320,000 per week, pushing for an improved deal in the light of his performances this season.
Kimmich has been an ever-present in the Champions League this term, helping Bayern sneak past Celtic to set up a round of 16 meeting with Bayer Leverkusen. He had also played every minute in the league before injury struck against Eintracht Frankfurt last time out, with Bayern eight points clear of defending champions and closest challengers Leverkusen in the league standings.
BILD reports that Bayern chiefs spoke about Kimmich’s future at a quarterly supervisory board meeting on Monday. There, they are said to have ruled out an increased offer and withdrawn the one already on the table, though the same publication indicates the door is not completely closed on a new deal.
Where will Joshua Kimmich be playing next season? Have your say in the comments section
Liverpool and City could both find themselves in need of right-back cover in the summer, potentially leaving an opening for Kimmich to play more regularly in the position he occupied for Germany at Euro 2024. Reds defender Trent Alexander-Arnold is out of contract in June and continues to be linked with Real Madrid, while City have tried a few different things since allowing Kyle Walker to join AC Milan on an initial loan.
Matheus Nunes got the nod at right-back against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday, while Rico Lewis and Abdukodir Khusanov are among the others to play there since Walker’s exit. City won 1-0 in North London, with Erling Haaland getting the goal, and manager Pep Guardiola was full of praise for Khusanov after the Uzbek excelled in the right-sided centre-back role.
“It’s not easy to overcome after what happened after five minutes against Chelsea but he was calm and he handled it,” Guardiola said. “The games he’s played recently, he’s been really, really good.”
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