Bayern Munich is currently in a crucial phase for negotiating the contracts of Jamal Musiala, Joshua Kimmich, and Alphonso Davies. The trio of players all have contracts that currently expire this summer, but the club’s front office is working behind the scenes to tie down all three to new contracts and they are prepared to make Musiala the face of the club and one of the highest earners in the squad.
Both board member for sport Max Eberl and sporting director Christoph Freund have emphasized that this winter window will be dedicated to sorting out key contracts as opposed to bringing in new business, but the clock is ticking. With every day that passes during this window, the more pressure is put on. With contracts expiring this year, all players can technically speak with other clubs and agree to sign pre-contracts if they do decide to do so.
For Kimmich, former Bayern and Germany midfielder Lothar Matthäus feels that there could be an incentive that could help nudge the midfielder in the right direction in terms of agreeing on a new deal. Kimmich is already captain of the German national team for Julian Nagelsmann, so Matthäus lobbied the idea of Vincent Kompany perhaps giving him the armband at some point this season or at least promising it for next season to Kimmich. “Why not create an additional incentive for Joshua Kimmich to extend his contract in addition to the financial and sporting aspects. Holding both captaincies [Bayern and Germany] at the same time is something historic, which would appeal to him and would be a big honor. The people in charge at FC Bayern and Vincent Kompany should think about promoting Kimmich to captain early – despite Manuel Neuer and Thomas Müller. And I say that with all due respect to Neuer and Müller,” the former Bayern and Germany midfielder questioned (via @iMiaSanMia).
Photo by Marco Steinbrenner/DeFodi Images via Getty Images
Waiting until next season to give Kimmich the armband could help keep the harmony in the dressing room, so long as Neuer would be okay with the decision. He has missed a decent chunk of matches this season and in recent seasons, which has not been the case at all for Kimmich bar the respiratory infection he had in the 2020/21 season. Making him captain could make perfect sense, and it could certainly incentivize him to agree to a new, long-term deal.
For Matthäus, a Kimmich captaincy next season is something he feels everyone would agree to. “You could discuss changing the captain in winter, although that could cause unrest at the club before the start of the second half of the season. But by the new season at the latest, I would make Joshua Kimmich captain – despite Neuer’s impending contract extension. Manuel can cope with that, he doesn’t have to insist on the role after all these years,” he proposed.
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