Pep Guardiola has already given his verdict on Liverpool transfer target Joshua Kimmich

Liverpool and Pep Guardiola could do battle for Joshua Kimmich this summer, with Anfield and the Etihad named as two of just five places where he would like to move. The Manchester City boss has already given his verdict on the 29-year-old.

According to Florian Plettenberg, Kimmich is "free to leave" Bayern Munich, with his contract up next year. But he would only be interested in joining Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Real Madrid or Barcelona.

A move to Man City would see him link up again with Guardiola, who previously managed Bayern. And if Arne Slot is on the fence about the signing, perhaps he could listen to what his brand new rival had to say way back in 2016.

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Guardiola and Kimmich got one year together. While it's easy to forget now, the German made his senior breakthrough at RB Leipzig, playing two seasons there before signing for Bayern Munich in 2015.

And in March the following year, just months before Guardiola left for Manchester City (and with the move already public knowledge), he heaped glowing praise on Kimmich. He predicted big things for the player he would soon be leaving behind:

"I love this kid," said Guardiola, via FourFourTwo. "He has absolutely everything and can achieve whatever he wants. He wants to learn and has passion. When I speak about Joshua Kimmich, I only say good things. I have a message for journalists: Don't say that he can't play in defense."

Kimmich has indeed gone on to have a very successful career, a long-time stalwart for both Bayern Munich and Germany. But the questions over his best position never truly stopped.

Take last season, for instance. He made 16 appearances at right-back, and 26 appearances as a defensive midfielder. At 29, his best role is still not clearly defined.

There are irresistible parallels to Trent Alexander-Arnold. Guardiola's defense of Kimmich could just as easily have been Jurgen Klopp talking about his own under-scrutiny full-back.

So if Liverpool did make a move, Slot would be inheriting another positional dilemma. On the other hand, he would have two world-class options if he intended to carry on with the "hybrid" role — and Guardiola certainly made clear that he holds Kimmich in the highest regard.

Liverpool.com says: Kimmich is no "kid" anymore. And that's why Liverpool probably won't sign him.

At 29, he has fulfilled much of the promise Guardiola saw in him. Accordingly, he's a very high earner at Bayern Munich, and the Reds would be reluctant to take on such a salary commitment for a player soon to be exiting his peak years.

Still, as a real luxury addition, it would be exciting. There are parallels to when Liverpool made an exception to all its usual rules to sign Thiago.