Manchester United is showing a keen interest in acquiring Bayern Munich’s midfielder Joshua Kimmich, setting their sights on an offer that’s more feasible for them than Barcelona, according to recent reports.
Kimmich, on the brink of entering the last year of his contract with Bayern, has stirred considerable discussion regarding his future in Germany. Without a renewal of his contract, Bayern might be positioned to sell the player who has been with them since 2015.
Several elite clubs are monitoring Kimmich’s situation closely. Last month, TEAMtalk disclosed that he’s featured on the wish lists of Manchester City, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain.
Diario Sport now adds that Kimmich has attracted attention from Barcelona, who are still in search of an ideal successor for Sergio Busquets after his departure to Inter Miami last year.
Nonetheless, the report suggests that Manchester United’s interest in Kimmich is substantial, and they stand a good chance of placing a higher bid than Barcelona for the 29-year-old.
This development arises as United contemplates the future of Casemiro, who, despite having a contract until 2026, might be on the move this summer.
Securing Kimmich as Casemiro’s successor would require United to match Bayern’s valuation, which hovers around €50m (£42.8m).
Given Barcelona’s financial woes, Manchester United emerges as a more probable candidate to propose such a bid.
Indeed, Kimmich is being prioritized by Manchester United as they gear up for their initial transfer window under Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s leadership.
This strategy appears somewhat unexpected, given Ratcliffe’s vision for Manchester United to shift focus from acquiring high-priced veteran talents, similar to Casemiro’s signing in 2022, towards investing in younger prospects.
Having appeared in 31 matches for Bayern this season, either as a defensive midfielder or right-back, Kimmich remains a high-caliber player, albeit slightly older than what Ratcliffe ideally aims to target.
