Bayern Munich chief Max Eberl says he will not put pressure on Joshua Kimmich to sign a new contract despite speculation over a move to Liverpool. With the Germany international out of contract in the summer, the Reds are just one of a number of European clubs linked with the midfielder.

Kimmich, who turns 30 on Saturday, has showcased his versatility in Bavaria with spells in defence, full-back and midfield during his trophy-laden career at the Allianz Arena.

It's not unusual for Liverpool to be linked with some of Europe's top players and in the past, outlets have distinguished a link with the Reds and Bayern following Thiago Alcantara's move in 2020 when the Spaniard swapped Munich for Merseyside aged 29.

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Manchester City and Manchester United, as well as Arsenal, are also among the list of rumoured suitors. However, the German top-flight giants are remaining calm over his future with Alphonso Davies - who too was linked with a departure at the end of his contract in the summer - signing a new five-year deal this week..

The Bayern director of sport said: "Joshua Kimmich turns 30 on Saturday. He has almost a decade of FC Bayern behind him. Players are people with their own life plans and not robots.

"And when Joshua says: Last summer I couldn't imagine extending my contract and now I've perhaps got it in my head to some extent and want to think about it - then that's legitimate for me."

Liverpool head coach Arne Slot discussed the prospect of the summer transfer window with the ongoing contract uncertainty surrounding the key Reds three.

"It would be a bit weird if I said I was so happy with this team in the summer window and this winter window that now in the next window we bring 15 new players in," Slot joked. "That would be [weird]. But like I said you always have to be prepared for all the new things coming up.

"Will the players that don't play a big part at the moment, will they be able to do this another year? Will they fight for their place or will they [want to] go somewhere else? So we have to be prepared for the next window and what we can do.

"Of course we have some contractual situations that you don't probably don't know about! (laughs) But Trent, Mo and Virgil haven't extended yet. So we are aware of the fact that we have to be sharp and ready for things that can happen.

"I think Richard said this already and maybe I said it once or twice as well that with the 'new regime' coming in, with Richard, me and some others, the first thing we wanted to do was see what we had over here.

"What could we do with them? Ryan Gravenberch is a great example of that, he quickly became the No.6 just by working with players and every single day or a lot of days, we constantly adjust asking: where are we? What quality do we have? Can we add something? Yes or no.

"And then there is the question: is that quality available? Only so many players are good enough to play for this team. That is also not so easy. If you are at Feyenoord, there are more players available than if you are at Liverpool for the right price.

"At the moment, we are very happy with what we have. But in football, things can change as well. If in the upcoming three months, a certain player who has done so well starts to play poorly, then you might have to adjust."