Top Barcelona midfield target open to extending contract with current club

Barcelona have long seen Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich as the ideal long-term successor to Sergio Busquets.

Kimmich emerged as a prime target due to his ability to play both as a central midfielder and as a right-back.

However, financial hurdles and the emergence of Marc Bernal prior to his injury pushed the pursuit for Kimmich out of reach during the summer transfer window.

But the Catalans never lost sight of the German international, especially with his contract at Bayern Munich expiring at the end of the season.

Big blow for Barcelona

Now, Barcelona’s hopes of landing Kimmich next year have taken a serious hit.

The Bayern Munich star recently expressed his openness to extending his contract with the Bavarian giants, further cooling the possibility of his arrival at Camp Nou.

Kimmich’s current deal expires in June 2025, and while Barcelona had hoped to secure him on a free transfer next summer, his latest comments indicate a potential long-term stay at Bayern.

“I’m available to discuss with the club,” Kimmich said (h/t Fabrizio Romano) when asked about his contract situation.

“It’s always nice to feel the support from the club, and I’m just enjoying the moment. It’s important to win games,” he added.

Kimmich’s words suggest that talks with Bayern are ongoing, and the club’s general manager, Max Eberl, has been equally emphatic. “Kimmich will be one of the faces of Bayern’s future,” Eberl said before Bayern’s last match.

It appears a strong start to the season is playing a key role in convincing Kimmich to continue his spell at Bayern Munich. The onus is now on Barcelona to try and discourage the German from prolonging his spell in Bavaria.