- EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey
Premier League champions-elect Manchester City may be handed a major boost in their pursuit of Joshua Kimmich with Bayern Munich edging towards extending Thomas Tuchel’s stay at the Bundesliga giants.
HITC understands that Joshua Kimmich is of serious interest to Manchester City ahead of the summer transfer window.
The experienced Germany international, who made his name as a Bayern Munich player during Pep Guardiola‘s time in charge at the Allianz Arena, is entering the final 12 months of his contract. There has been little movement on an extension in recent times, either, and that freeze will not thaw any quicker if Bayern opt to retain the services of Thomas Tuchel through to 2024/25.
We have been informed that Bayern’s board have decided to pursue an extended deal for the former Chelsea, PSG and Borussia Dortmund boss after running into a series of problems in those aborted pursuits of Xabi Alonso, Julian Nagelsmann, Ralf Ragnick and Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner.
Sporting director Max Eberl has come to the conclusion that Tuchel – who led Bayern to the Champions League semi-finals despite some highly-disappointing domestic returns – would be better off staying put.
Manchester City hope to sign Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich
Tuchel wants a two-year contract, discussions now underway.
But while some in the Bayern dressing room are keen to see the 2021 Champions League winner stay put, Kimmich is understood to have something of a strained relationship with the famously prickly Tuchel.
The one-time Stuttgart and RB Leipzig starlet was waiting to see who Bayern would appoint before deciding on his own future. Tuchel remaining in charge, however, was not the result he wanted. As such, this sudden change of developments will not go unnoticed at the Etihad, with Manchester City huge Kimmich fans.
The versatile 29-year-old – who prefers to play in midfield but has been used as a right-back by Tuchel of late – could reportedly be available for just £25 million this summer (The Mirror). Kimmich, a treble winner under Hansi Flick back in 2020, would bring further depth and experience to the Man City dressing room, while perhaps freeing up Guardiola to cash in on the out-of-favour Kalvin Phillips.
Premier League leaders eyeing Bundesliga raid
HITC have been told that Kimmich also has admirers at Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United.
Guardiola was famously filmed in an impassioned discussion with a then-21-year-old Kimmich following a 0-0 draw with Klassiker rivals Dortmund back in 2016, professing his ‘love’ for a youngster he fielded at centre-half to combat the pace of a peak-era Pierre Emerick Aubemeyang.
Perhaps, as Kimmich closes in on his 30s, a return to a centre-half role could await him, like Fernandinho in his final few years at City.
HITC, meanwhile, understands that Man City are in talks with one of the Bayer Leverkusen players who helped seize the crown from Bayern heads. Flying right-sider Jeremie Frimpong, a one-time City academy graduate, has a £34 million release clause in his Leverkusen contract.
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