Reported Liverpool target Konrad Laimer is 'leaning' towards joining Bayern Munich when his contract expires at the end of the season, according to Sky Germany's Florian Plettenberg.
Laimer is set to leave current club RB Leipzig come the end of the season after nine seasons in the Red Bull system - firstly at Austrian outfit Salzburg before moving to Germany in 2017. Jurgen Klopp's side are said to have been monitoring the midfielder's situation as they hope to secure a summer move in January.
But while the report states that a full agreement is some way off, Laimer is leaning towards staying in Germany and joining Bundesliga giants Bayern. The 25-year-old is said to have liked the idea of a move to Bavaria in the summer and has 'everything prepared' with Julian Nagelsmann's side.
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Laimer has also made sure to not officially turn down any interested club as he keeps options open, and Plettenberg expects a final decision to be made early next year. Liverpool and Chelsea remain keen on luring him to the Premier League, with the duo described as 'still in' the race.
The Austrian international has managed just six appearances across all competitions after suffering an ankle ligament injury in September. He is expected to return when the Bundesliga does so in the new year.
Reds boss Klopp is thought to have midfield reinforcements as his top priority both in January and the summer, with Borussia Dortmund star Jude Bellingham top of that list. But the German will also need to start looking for an eventual successor to Fabinho, with the Brazilian now 29.
Liverpool have a history of taking interest in players produced through the Red Bull system. Klopp has signed the likes of Naby Keita, Ibrahima Konate, Sadio Mane and Takumi Minamino, who all played at either Leipzig or Salzburg prior to their Anfield arrival.
Laimer admitted in the summer there was interest from Liverpool, although it was clear he had concerns about the move.
“[Liverpool’s interest] wasn’t so hot that anything would have happened,” Laimer told Bild.
“A hasty departure is not my thing. If I were to change clubs, I would want to think it through and decide calmly, not overnight. Especially since the first half of the season is very short anyway due to the World Cup and you wouldn’t have had time to settle in and find your feet.
“The Premier League is nice, but for me it’s not a must. It’s much more important to me: how do people talk to me, what feeling do I have about something.”
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