Bayern Munich are remaining cautiously optimistic that Joshua Kimmich could sign a new contract ahead of its expiry in the summer.

Kimmich could become one of the most high profile free agents on the market in the summer and Manchester United could well be looking at him as a potential target. Ineos have already made it their mission statement to find value in the market and cut costs where possible so, signing a player of the midfielder's quality, could be ideal.

After Alphonso Davies committed his long-term future to Bayern on Tuesday, the talk in Germany is whether Kimmich will now follow suit. This question was put candidly to the club's sporting director Max Eberl and his response suggested that the Bundesliga giants could be feeling confident of tying him down.

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"Joshua Kimmich turns 30 on Saturday. He has almost a decade of FC Bayern behind him," Eberl explained as quoted by TZ.

"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."

Kimmich is thought to be happier under Vincent Kompany's reign having been moved back into the centre of the midfield. But despite being happier, Eberl is keen not to rush the 29-year-old into a decision.

"[He has to] let his thoughts mature that Bayern Munich is the club where he wants to continue," he concluded. "That is legitimate."

The transfer window does not reopen until June but as he plays abroad and has less than six months on his contract, United can approach the midfielder with a pre-contract offer.