Krishnan Sreekumar
Manchester United suffer transfer blow as Bayern Munich prepare bid for RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer
According to football journalist Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Bayern Munich are preparing a bid to secure the services of RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer in the upcoming summer transfer window, with manager Julian Nagelsmann keen on the player.
The Sun claims that this will come as a huge transfer blow for Manchester United, who were interested in signing the Austrian at the end of the season to bolster their midfield. A massive rebuild is expected at the club in the summer, and Laimer is a possible transfer target.
The 24-year-old has been an excellent servant for Leipzig over the years in the middle of the pitch, ever since his move from RB Salzburg in 2017. He has taken the Bundesliga by storm this term and caught the attention of several clubs who are keen to snap him up in the summer.
The Red Devils look set to open the cheque book at the end of the season and bring in additions to a team that has failed to get going during the current campaign. They are unlikely to finish in the top four of the Premier League, seeing their Champions League qualification dreams shattered.
“I know him well and know what he can do”
Laimer may have been a player that the Manchester side was keen on prising away from Leipzig ahead of the new term, but Romano has revealed that Bayern are putting together an opening bid worth between €18m to €20m to convince their German rivals to sell the player.
However, United could possibly use their connections with Ralf Rangnick to convince the Austria international to pick them over the Bavarian giants. The English club’s interim boss is set to become the new manager of the Austria national team in the summer, and Laimer recently spoke about his happiness about working under the coach.
“I’m very happy he’s going to be our coach. I know him well and know what he can do.”
Rangnick’s impending exit in the coming weeks has paved the way for the arrival of Erik ten Hag of Ajax Amsterdam, who is set to replace the German as United’s next permanent manager. He is expected to transform the Red Devils once he takes over, starting with a squad overhaul. Rangnick, meanwhile, has past ties with Laimer’s current club.
Midfield has long been an apparent weakness of the side, and the current crop of options has often been dismal when they have taken to the field in the big games. The team does not have anyone to rely on to either drive the side forward in attack or shield the defence effectively.
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Laimer could prove to be a useful addition to the Old Trafford outfit ahead of the new season. However, Leipzig are keen to retain his services for a longer time and will fight to keep him, although his contract expires in 2023. Bayern will also prove tough competition for United as they look to battle the Bundesliga club for the player’s signature in the summer.
The Munich side can offer him the comfort of staying in Germany and moving to a bigger and more successful club, while the Manchester team offers him the prospect of a new challenge in England. Only time will tell which among the clubs will win the transfer battle in the end, if at all his current team lets him leave.
