Manchester City midfield transfer target eyes extended stay at current club in potential blow

Recruitment bosses at Manchester City may face a fresh blow to their hopes of signing a new face in midfield this summer, according to new reports from Germany.

Etihad Stadium officials are in the process of recruiting a new back-up to Rodrigo in defensive midfield, but are facing a string of challenges to their hopes after over 30 days of the ongoing summer transfer window.

Adam Wharton of Crystal Palace and England has admirers within Manchester City and the club could yet turn to the exciting prospect in the coming years, but a move this summer is likely to be ruled out through a desire to remain at Selhurst Park for his development.

Newcastle United and Brazil international Bruno Guimaraes is a primary target for the club, despite holding no intention to get close to the valuation of the player’s now-expired £100 million release clause.

But the 26-year-old could soon become an urgent priority of those within the Premier League champions, after a new report has indicated a desire from one potential recruit to remain at his current club for his upcoming season.

According to the information of SPORTBILD’s Tobi Altschäffl and Christian Falk, as translated and relayed by Bayern Munich news source iMiaSanMia, Joshua Kimmich currently wants to fulfil his contract at the Allianz Arena until the summer of 2025.

It is further explained that Kimmich currently earns €15 million fixed plus €5 million in bonuses per year at Bayern Munich, a salary that his employers are said to now be ‘unwilling to pay him’ anymore.

There was a feeling of confidence within Manchester City earlier on in the summer that a deal for Joshua Kimmich could be done, both due to the player’s openness to a reunion with Pep Guardiola and his desire to play in midfield.

Manchester City and Bayern Munich also have greater links between the two, with former Etihad Stadium captain and now head coach Vincent Kompany leading the football operation at the Allianz Arena.

City and Kompany have met on numerous occasions since the Belgian’s strides in football management and his most-recent job with Burnley, with Pep Guardiola coming out on top in all three meetings.

It remains to be seen whether a proposal from Manchester City to Joshua Kimmich could force a change of mind in the upcoming weeks, with the Germany international currently on holiday after the European Championships.