Manchester City and Manchester United are set to become embroiled in a transfer battle for Bayern Munich’s Joshua Kimmich, reports Kicker.
The 22-year-old’s future in Bavaria may depend on whether he can convince Carlo Ancelotti to continue to use him as a midfielder.
With Phillip Lahm set to retire at the end of the season, it’s thought the versatile Kimmich could be used to fill the void left by the World Cup winner at full-back.
Xabi Alonso is also hanging up his boots this summer, so Ancelotti may be reluctant to lose a player who can serve as a replacement for both.
Jose Mourinho is on the hunt for a replacement for Michael Carrick, and with Antonio Valencia now 31, he could certainly do with some cover at right-back too.
It’s worth bearing in mind that nine of Kimmich’s 19 Bundesliga appearances this season have come from the bench, so he would have a lot to learn were he to be introduced to United’s first team straight away.
As for City, Pep Guardiola is hoping to build his team around young prospects, having already brought in Gabriel Jesus and John Stones.
Yaya Toure is expected to leave the Etihad in the coming months, and a series of injuries to Ilkay Gundogan have left the central midfield as something of a problem position for City.
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