7 expiring Bayern contracts
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In addition to the planned commitments of Hoffenheim midfielder Tom Bischof (19) and Cologne goalkeeper Jonas Urbig (21), contract extensions for top performers are on the agenda at FC Bayern. Sports director Max Eberl will not follow Oliver Kahn’s advice in poker with national team captain Joshua Kimmich. “I don’t think much of ultimatums,” said Eberl after the league leaders’ 5-0 win against TSG Hoffenheim at the end of the first half of the Bundesliga.
Former Munich CEO Kahn had advised his ex-Kub to put some pressure on Kimmich. Kimmich’s contract, who turns 30 on February 8th, expires at the end of the season. He could leave Bayern for free after a decade. “If Kimmich doesn’t make a decision in a timely manner, the club will have to be ready to show strength at some point and set a deadline. If this is exceeded, the offer can be withdrawn and you can look for someone else or rely on players in the current squad,” Kahn told “Sport Bild”.
For Eberl, however, it would be “not a sign of strength to say that you have to decide by that day.” But it is also difficult for an outsider like Kahn to judge such topics, said Eberl indulgently. “He’s not present at the talks. He doesn’t know how we talk to each other.” Eberl had already refused to give ultimatums in negotiations with top players like Kimmich or Jamal Musiala (21) at the beginning of the year.
FC Bayern: Contract decisions before “crunch time”
“It’s like that in life that we have to decide at some point,” emphasized the sports director with a view to the second half of the season. “I think Josh also wants a decision to be made at some point. I already said we won’t go to crunch time (the season; d. Red.) go and have no decisions,” said Eberl. But that doesn’t just apply to midfielder Kimmich.
Tah, Sané & Co.
Contracts expiring in 2025
Bundesliga overview
For the DFB captain, a central question in the negotiations is, in addition to finances, the sporting orientation and the entire squad line-up for the German record champions. “If Joshua Kimmich – or whoever – sat at the table with us and didn’t ask what’s next for us, what our plans are, then you wouldn’t want that player either,” said Eberl. “You want to have a player who identifies with this club, who wants to know from us how we see the future.”
Open Bavarian future: The stand at Sané, Müller & Musiala
After the strong performance of double goalscorer Leroy Sané (29) at FC Bayern’s goal gala, the question of the attacker’s open future was immediately discussed again. “Leroy has his qualities, we know that. The way he presents himself is exactly how we need him,” said Eberl. According to the “Kicker”, the 29-year-old would like to extend his expiring contract and accept a significantly lower salary in return. It was never said that Sané had no future in Munich beyond the summer, said Eberl: “Leroy has incredibly great quality. And if he uses them like he did today, then he is of course a player who is an option for Bayern Munich.” Recently it was said that the trend is towards a separation.
The manager said about club icon Thomas Müller (35): “We have already spoken to him and postponed.” With him it will “probably be the shortest conversation.” The veteran now said calmly: “Of course there are pro and con lists. But everything is relaxed. I won’t reveal too much about it because I don’t think much about it myself. It’s not a hugely explosive issue for me.” As with Müller, there could be a new one-year contract for goalkeeper Manuel Neuer (38) – the implementation apparently depends on the final details. With central defender Eric Dier (31) and number 3 Sven Ulreich (36), there is no time pressure, according to the “Kicker”. As of today, both professionals can also change for free in the summer. Just like left-back Alphonso Davies (24), but things could now change. In total, seven working papers end in June 2025.
Meanwhile, offensive man Musiala (contract until 2026) will soon be made an initial offer. According to the magazine, probably with the desired exit clause, which the DFB kicker’s side supposedly stipulates at around 175 million euros, as “Sport Bild” recently reported. This demand does not cause any major concerns among the FCB bosses.