Barca Universal
·23 Desember 2024
In partnership with
Yahoo sportsBarca Universal
·23 Desember 2024
Joshua Kimmich is one of many potential free agents that FC Barcelona have their eyes on for the summer of 2025.
Even though it was suggested that the Blaugrana are no longer pursuing the 29-year-old midfielder, recent reports indicate that they remain very much interested in the Bayern Munich ace, along with Manchester City.
Kimmich will enter the final six months of his contract at the Allianz Arena in a week and Bayern are starting to get impatient.
Indeed, according to Sky Germany, Bayern Munich are eager to receive a clear statement about Kimmich’s future as early as January.
The 29-year-old midfield star recently said that he planned to give serious thought to his future with his family around Christmas.
What will Kimmich decide? (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
Bayern’s executives, including sporting director Max Eberl, have repeatedly mentioned making Kimmich the face of the team in the future – possibly even handing him the captain’s armband when Manuel Neuer decides to retire.
While the German record champions were open to his sale last summer for a big offer, the situation has now changed.
A free transfer departure would be hard for Bayern to bear and could draw public criticism considering Kimmich has been in top form for months, rarely injured, and is now the captain of the German national team.
This is why Kimmich now holds nearly all the cards in the negotiations. Bayern Munich are offering him a new long-term deal and have publicly courted him.
However, it is unlikely that he will make a clear decision in early January, especially with top clubs like Manchester City and Barcelona keeping an eye on him.
From Bayern’s point of view, however, they want Kimmich to make a concrete statement in the near future. After all, they need to plan ahead and look for a top alternative for the centre in the event of him leaving on a free transfer.