According to Bild, midfielder Konrad Laimer has decided not to extend his contract with RB Leipzig and is looking for a new club with Bayern Munich being touted to be his preferred destination.
Julian Nagelsmann appears eager to add Laimer to his summer signings Sadio Mane, Ryan Gravenberch, and Noussair Mazraoui. After two years together at Leipzig, the Austrian midfielder is himself eager to reunite with his former head coach.
Bayern have yet not made an official offer but as per the same report, Nagelsmann wants him to join the Allianz Arena side as soon as possible. RB Leipzig, on the other hand, wants 30 million euros for Laimer, which could be too much for Bayern. Die Roten’s only viable option would be to pay a first instalment this summer and then settle the remainder later.
The workload of the 25-year-old must be managed to keep him fresh for the entire season, and thus the player – who can fill in nicely for Joshua Kimmcih – is able to provide healthy competition within the squad. Laimer is also good at pressing, which can help the side’s counter-pressing next season, a tactical area identified by Nagelsmann as a way to strengthen the team.
The addition of the Austrian midfielder could result in additional departures from the current squad with midfielders Corentin Tolisso and Marc Roca reportedly already leaving Bayern last month on a free transfer.
Roca has recently been linked with a move to Leeds United, while Eintracht Frankfurt is also keen on the player. The transfer fee for the Spaniard will almost certainly cover the cost of Laimer.
The German international has been with Leipzig since the summer of 2017, after joining from sister club RB Salzburg. Since then, he has made 159 appearances for the Bundesliga club, scoring 11 goals and assisting on 18. Since the 2019/20 season, the midfielder has been a sure-shot starter.
