FC Barcelona continues working on planning for the next season, and one of the names that most appeals to the board and the coaching staff is Joshua Kimmich. The German has been a key piece at Bayern Munich over the last decade. He will not renew his contract and will be free in the summer, making him one of the great market opportunities in Europe.
The possibility of signing a player of his level without having to pay a transfer fee has sparked the interest of top-tier clubs. But at Barça there is a factor that can make a difference: Hansi Flick wants him no matter what.
Kimmich with Bayern | @FCBayern
Kimmich, Willing to Sign for Barça
At 30 years old, Kimmich is looking for a new challenge and Barça is one of the destinations that attracts him the most. His departure from Bayern is due to a combination of factors: lack of agreement on the renewal, differences with the board and the desire to face a new challenge in another league.
In this regard, Barça has contacted his entourage to gauge the options of his arrival. Deco has been in charge of conveying the club's interest and assessing the feasibility of the signing within the club's financial constraints.
The German greatly values Flick's presence on the Barça bench. With him, he reached his best version at Bayern Munich, achieving the sextuple in 2020 and becoming one of the most important players in European soccer.
Kimmich and Flick who coincided at Bayern | FC Bayern
Flick Wants Him as an Undisputed Starter
If Kimmich arrives at Barça, Flick is clear that he will be a starter from day one. His versatility is one of his greatest virtues, as he can play as a defensive midfielder or as a right-back, a position where Barça has had problems in recent years.
If he plays in the midfield, he could displace Frenkie de Jong or even modify his role in the team.
If he plays as a right-back, Flick could use Jules Koundé as a center-back, strengthening the defense and giving the team more solidity.
Additionally, Kimmich brings leadership, experience and quality, something that fits perfectly with Barça's style and Flick's game idea.
De Jong with Barça | @FCBarcelona
Barça is not the only team interested in Joshua Kimmich. Manchester City, Liverpool and PSG have also contacted his entourage and could make him offers far superior to the Catalan club's.
However, the player is not only thinking about money but also about the sports project and the possibility of reuniting with Flick. If Barça manages to convince him that they can aspire to titles, the operation could come to fruition.
Kimmich with Bayern | @FCBayern
His Salary
The biggest problem for Barça is not his signing fee but the salary he demands. Joshua Kimmich wants to earn more than 10 million euros net per season, which would make him the second highest-paid player on the squad, only behind Robert Lewandowski.
At Bayern, Kimmich already received a similar figure, so he is not willing to lower his salary to sign for Barça. This poses a great challenge for the board, which must find a way to fit the operation within the salary cap imposed by LaLiga.
To do this, deferred payments, performance bonuses or even the departure of some players to free up space in the wage bill could be considered.
Kimmich with Bayern | @jok_32
The coming weeks will be key to knowing if Barça can make the signing of Joshua Kimmich a reality.
If Barça manages to balance the numbers and convince the player that their project is ambitious and competitive, Kimmich could become the great reinforcement of the summer for the blaugranas. But if the German's financial demands are too high, other clubs with greater financial capacity could take him.
Will Laporta and Deco make the necessary effort to close his signing? The answer, in the coming weeks.
