Liverpool have reportedly withdrawn from the race to sign Joshua Kimmich, a player Jose Mourinho once praised as “absolutely phenomenal”.
The 29-year-old Bayern Munich star has been on Liverpool's radar for years, with former manager Jurgen Klopp being a great admirer of him. Now that his contract at the Allianz Arena expires at the end of the season and talks about an extension have stagnated, a departure before the summer seems increasingly likely.
But a move to Anfield does not appear to be on the cards as Reds boss Arne Slot is reportedly happy with the midfielders he has. Liverpool were looking for a central midfielder last summer and saw a deal for Real Sociedad's Martin Zubimendi fall through at the last minute. But it appears that those transfer plans have been shelved for the time being.
Perhaps it's not a surprise considering how well players like Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones have played this season. That said, Kimmich has proven to be an elite central midfielder in recent years, and he offers a level of versatility that few other players can offer.
In 2020, Mourinho praised Kimmich for his intelligence, influence and unique adaptability. “I see him as a right-back, left-back, centre-back, No. 6, No. 8, No. 10… he has qualities to be everything,” said the ex-Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham. boss told DAZN.
“He is intelligent and understands what to do here and what to do there. I think he is a phenomenal, absolutely phenomenal player. I am a team coach and not an individual coach.”
“For me, the team is much more important than the individuals. It is much more important that Bayern wins the Champions League than that someone wins an individual trophy, but I see this boy [Kimmich] with Lewandowski [and] Neuer. I see this kid with these guys in an elite group capable of winning individual awards.”
Just over a year ago, Liverpool were seriously considering a move for the Germany international. According to Sky Sports Germany, Klopp outlined plans to lure him to Merseyside, which might have come to fruition had he not decided to step down.
Kimmich, who is three caps away from achieving a ton for his national team, started out as a midfielder at RB Leipzig but switched to right-back shortly after his move to Bayern in 2015. His technical ability meant it wasn't long before he returned to central areas, and he has spent the better part of the last decade switching between midfield and full-back for club and country.
He has been a regular in Vincent Kompany's side this season and appears to be enjoying life under the former Manchester City captain. No decision has been made yet on his future, but Kimmich recently admitted he would likely stay, especially now that his family has fully settled in Bavaria.
“The chance that I will stay is much greater than in the summer, because I can see how we play football. That also has a lot to do with the coach,” he said.
“The whole of Germany can see that we play football in a different way. It looks much better. It is fun in training and on the field. Of course there are many good reasons to extend the contract. For me it is a fundamental It's about where you can be most successful over the next three to four years.”
However, if contract negotiations fail, the likes of City and Barcelona will be ready to pounce. Pep Guardiola was in charge when Bayern signed Kimmich from Leipzig in 2015 and is believed to be keen on a reunion.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick also worked with Kimmich for a number of years in Munich and reportedly views the player as someone who could fit effortlessly into the style and composition of his Camp Nou midfield.
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