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Bayern Munich defender Niklas Süle has reportedly piqued the interest of Chelsea once again, as the 25-year-old is less than 18 months away from the end of his contract at the moment.
That means there is still some time to talk about a new deal for the centre back, with Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge indicating his club’s desire to keep some of the best players that Germany have to offer — including Süle.
“We want the good German national team players at FC Bayern. Niklas still has one year of the contract. We will hold talks and see where they’ll lead. We will look at the whole thing seriously & calmly by the summer.”
But like most businesses around the world, Bayern have been hit hard by the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and have to take that factor into consideration in said negotiations.
“[The COVID-19 pandemic] has also caused financial damage to FC Bayern. If we find a solution, we are happy to extend the contract, but that will only be possible under certain conditions.”
-Karl-Heinz Rummenigge; source: Daily Mail
Then again, Bayern just committed €40m (plus wages) to Dayot Upamecano, which probably won’t be lost on Süle’s camp and representation. The club may claim financial hardship, but actions always speak louder than words.
In any case, Chelsea have been able to maintain the club’s financial stability and purchasing power throughout the pandemic, which might be helpful in the summer as well, be that in case of Süle, or any other transfer target.