From Germany: Manchester City face Liverpool transfer battle for Bayern Munich star midfielder | OneFootball

Manchester City and Liverpool look set to clash over the potential signing of Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich this summer, according to reports in Germany.

The reigning Premier League champions are likely to address their midfield ranks when the market reopens for another summer at the end of the ongoing season, with a number of players’ futures growing increasingly uncertain.

West Ham are likely to hold an option to buy on the out-of-favour Kalvin Phillips following the conclusion of his loan deal, with that initial agreement expected to be finalised this week. Elsewhere, Bernardo Silva could yet look into an exit from the Etihad Stadium.

As such, Txiki Begiristain and his boardroom colleagues at Manchester City will seek replacements and reinforcements in midfield among other positions, with one of Pep Guardiola’s former players now emerging as a new candidate.

That name is Joshua Kimmich, whom Pep Guardiola worked closely with during his time at Bayern Munich and could look to reunite with the player as soon as this summer, if new reports from Germany are to be believed.

According to the information of BILD’s Christian Falk, both Manchester City and Liverpool are interested in signing Joshua Kimmich from Bayern Munich next summer, with his current contract expiring at the end of the 2024/25 campaign.

Kimmich has previously spoken highly of Manchester City, admitting that playing against the reigning European champions was a ‘great opportunity’ when the club met Bayern Munich during the pre-season campaign of 2023.

Speaking to the media in July 2023, Kimmich explained, “Manchester City can be considered the number one club in Europe. It is a great opportunity to play against such a club.”

Other figures in football have also pointed towards Pep Guardiola’s personal love and admiration for the player, with Ralf Rangnick once discussing their relationship when discussing the rise and development of Manuel Akanji at Manchester City.

Speaking last year, the former Manchester United manager said of Akanji, “(This happens when Pep Guardiola) is so convinced of a player, has fallen in love with a player, works and talks with him so much, develops him. It was like with Joshua Kimmich, who Pep fell in love with in Munich.”

Whether or not Manchester City turn their interest in Kimmich into a concrete proposal remains to be seen, however their desire to strengthen in midfield is almost certain as the second-half of the season rapidly approaches for the club’s existing crop of players.