German reports have stated that Bayern Munich has withdrawn its offer to extend the contract of midfielder Joshua Kimmich, whose current deal is set to expire at the end of the season.
Kicker magazine confirmed a report, revealing that Bayern’s supervisory board decided on Monday to retract the offer due to Kimmich’s hesitance to accept it.
Kimmich, 30, has been with Bayern since 2015, after transferring from Leipzig at the age of 20. Having played over 400 matches for the club, he is reportedly earning around 20 million euros ($21 million) annually.
The proposed contract extension reportedly included a modest salary increase.
Bayern’s sports director, Max Eberl, stated earlier this month that talks with Kimmich had been positive, following the club’s announcement of new contract deals with players Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies, and Manuel Neuer.
Max Eberl, Bayern Munich’s sports director, commented on the situation, saying, “We’ve been working step by step. We’ve had very positive talks with Joshua and have clearly outlined our vision with the recent contract extensions.” Eberl expressed hope that the negotiations would ultimately reach a successful conclusion.
Joshua Kimmich had played every minute for Bayern Munich across three competitions until he suffered a tendon strain during the match against Eintracht Frankfurt last weekend. As a result, he is expected to miss the team’s upcoming game against Stuttgart on Friday, although Bayern hopes he will recover in time for the Champions League last 16 clash against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
Kimmich is free to leave Bayern at the end of the season, provided he doesn’t agree to a new contract with the club before then. There has been speculation that he could reunite with his former Bayern coach, Hansi Flick, at Barcelona, although the financially struggling Spanish club would still need to cover his wages.
