Bayern Munich’s Manchester City linked midfielder Joshua Kimmich would be the ‘perfect’ signing for Liverpool, according to former Premier League and England right-back Glen Johnson.
If there is one weakness in Jurgen Klopp’s squad, and there certainly aren’t many, it’s maybe at the base of the Liverpool midfield.
For all of Alexis Mac Allister’s qualities, the summer signing from Brighton and Hove Albion is not really a natural ‘number six’, while Wataru Endo – with his 31st birthday only a few days away – was perhaps more of a short-term solution.
So, as far as former Liverpool defender Johnson is concerned, the chance to sign a player of Joshua Kimmich’s ‘world-class’ capabilities is one the Premier League leaders cannot let pass them by. Particularly with the Germany international unlikely to extend a contract which expires in the summer of 2025.
Liverpool urged to raid Bayern Munich again
“Mac Allister has done great in that role,” Johnson, who once set Liverpool back £18 million when he arrived from Portsmouth, tells Squawka. “(The World Cup winner) would prefer to be playing further forward.
“It’s not like he can’t do that number six role. But I think they could do with a more defensive-minded player to anchor the midfield for sure.
“Joshua Kimmich would be perfect for Liverpool. With his contract situation, he’s not going to be a mind-blowing deal in terms of price.
“And he’s world class. He would be brilliant in that deep midfield role for Liverpool, helping the team and players around him to play the attacking football they want to by holding down that midfield. He’d be a great addition to the Liverpool side.”
At the age of 28, Kimmich is a player approaching what should be his prime years. There are concerns, however, that a man who has won all there is to win at club level has seen his development plateau somewhat in the post-Hansi Flick era at the Allianz Arena. Bayern’s own pursuit of a so-called ‘number six’ – Joao Palhinha nearly joined from Fulham last summer – is an indication that head coach Thomas Tuchel does not really share Johnson’s view that Kimmich is an elite-level defensive midfielder.
Manchester City keen on Germany star
HITC Football understands that Bayern would be willing to cash in on Kimmich. He is one of Manchester City’s leading targets heading into the summer, with Pep Guardiola keen to reunite with a player he set on his way in Bavaria all those years ago.
The Daily Star believe that Bayern could be tempted to accept just £25 million in the off-season, in the knowledge that the long-serving Kimmich could go for free just 12 months later down the line.
Liverpool signed Kimmich’s former Bayern team-mate Ryan Gravenberch last summer. Thiago Alcantara also swapped Munich for Merseyside in 2020.
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