Joshua Kimmich latest: Could Liverpool really sign Bayern superstar?

Things couldn’t be going much worse for Bayern Munich currently. The German record champions have lost three consecutive matches, against Bayer Leverkusen, Lazio and Bochum.

Leverkusen now lead the Bundesliga title race by eight points, with Bayern adrift in second, while Lazio now have the edge in the Champions League round of 16. 

It has led to a press frenzy over the future of manager Thomas Tuchel, with the former Chelsea man now seemingly destined for the chop. Whether Bayern do it now or at the end of the season largely depends on the quality of the candidates to replace him. 

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While Zinedine Zidane, Antonio Conte and Hansi Flick have been linked with Tuchel’s job in the short term, it would appear that Liverpool target Xabi Alonso heads the Bayern hierarchy’s list of replacements should Tuchel make it until summer. 

But the managerial plot line is not the only point of drama around the Allianz Arena at the moment. The futures of several key stars are up in the air. 

Veterans like Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer will be out of contract in 2025 with it currently unknown whether or not those World Cup winning legends will have their terms renewed. 

And key men Leroy Sane, Alphonso Davies and Joshua Kimmich are also currently shrouded in doubt. They too are out of contract at the end of next season with no renewals on the table. 

Bayern’s current lack of sporting director - with Max Eberl taking over in March - could well be a drag on proceedings but in the case of the latter three it is by no means certain they will remain with Bayern. 

Sane has been linked with Barcelona as well as a return to the Premier League, it appears all but inevitable that Davies, meanwhile, will end up at Real Madrid. Bayern are not prepared to be held to ransom on new contracts and, therefore, top earners could be sacrificed this summer in order to bring in good fees. 

Kimmich future in doubt

And it gets interesting for Kimmich here too. 

Long held as one of the best midfielders in world football, all is not well between the 29-year-old and his club right now. It was reported back in the autumn and winter period that he did not see eye to eye with Tuchel, leading to disagreements among the pair. 

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Tuchel was desperate to add Joao Palhinha to his midfield last summer and the Portuguese would have been expected to challenge Kimmich for his spot in the team. 

January then brought news item after news item that Kimmich would be sold. Manchester United, Manchester City - coached by Kimmich’s former Bayern mentor Pep Guardiola - and Liverpool have all been mentioned as possible destinations. 

He stayed put through winter but the noises around his future have only grown louder. 

Kimmich battled back from a shoulder injury to put himself in contention for the Leverkusen game only for Tuchel to opt for youngster Aleksandar Pavlovic in midfield instead. That was seen as a controversial move at the time, given Kimmich’s status as squad leader, treble winner and general standard bearer over the last decade. 

And then on Sunday he was taken off for Bryan Zaragoza around the 70 minute-mark with the Bochum game very much in the balance. 

Low row could be the end for Kimmich in Munich

That decision preceded a furious row between Kimmich and long-time Tuchel assistant Zsoltan Low on the way back to the dressing room. It’s been reported by Bild that the pair had to be pulled apart by Bayern players with Tuchel forced to acknowledge the spat post-match. 

“I know what was going on. This is not for the public,” the beleaguered boss said to reporters. “We are in a football locker room. This is a pretty normal occurrence if kept within limits. And it stayed within limits.”

And now discussions have restarted over whether Kimmich’s Bayern days are numbered and, if so, that Liverpool might steal in for his signature. 

Kimmich would no doubt be seen as something of a transfer coup for Liverpool and a first arrival of a 'world class' player in their prime since Thiago, also from Bayern, in 2020.

And given his contract situation it could be a relatively economical signing. To get a player of Kimmich’s calibre for around £45m could be a shrewd piece of business. 

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If it came down to it though Liverpool wouldn’t be the only dogs in the fight. Guardiola, who signed Kimmich from RB Leipzig for Bayern nearly 10 years ago, would probably be interested while United are always in the market for top names. 

It all depends now on Kimmich, whether he demonstrates any intention to renew his contract or if he fancies a challenge at another club and, indeed, if his issues at Bayern can be sorted out in the event of a Tuchel departure.

Liverpool would provide ideal conditions for him to thrive and he could well become one of the key faces of the post-Jurgen Klopp regime.