Joshua Kimmich has put the onus on Bayern Munich regarding his contract renewal, stating that a decision on his future will be made before the international break. Since joining Bayern in 2015, Kimmich has emerged as one of Germany's top midfielders, boasting eight Bundesliga titles and a Champions League victory in 2020.
Despite his pivotal role in Vincent Kompany's squad, his current contract is set to expire at season's end, and negotiations have hit a snag with Bayern reportedly retracting their latest offer after Kimmich missed a signing deadline.
This impasse has attracted interest from top clubs like Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain, who have initiated discussions with Kimmich's camp. The 30-year-old had opted to remain quiet on his future plans previously, but following Bayern's recent Champions League triumph over Bayer Leverkusen, he broke his silence.
"A decision will definitely be made soon," the midfielder said. The ball is not in my court. My plan was to do it before the international break. The club wanted it before the two Leverkusen games. I'm noticing that Max [Eberl] is honest and is fighting.
"It's not about squeezing out the last euro. I know that Max (Eberl) is very honest and is fighting. I really appreciate that. I also don't have the impression that I'm totally greedy. It's not about squeezing out the last euro. Max knows that. We had very good talks."
Kimmich has revealed the timeline for his much-anticipated decision on his future at the club, stating: "My plan was to make my decision before the international break. The club didn't want that, which is legitimate. I appreciate that they gave me a lot of time. It was important to get off to a good start this season after a difficult last season and build a relationship with each other again.
"The club now wanted to have a decision before the two games against Leverkusen. For me the injury complicated things a bit, without going into details. But there will be a decision soon. I don't know if it will be between both legs, but it will definitely be before the international break at the latest."
When probed about the actions he expects from the club regarding his new contract, Kimmich responded: "That's not the issue right now."
Amidst speculations that Arsenal have made an offer already, Kimmich confirmed that other clubs are indeed a factor in his decision-making, simply stating "yes" when asked about the influence of other clubs.
Despite refusing to disclose the clubs in question, Bayern remains hopeful about retaining their midfield maestro, with sporting director Eberl commenting on the ongoing negotiations: "As has often been said and confirmed, the talks were and are respectful and appreciative.
"However, everyone also feels that a decision should be made soon. I think Joshua Kimmich likes to have his destiny in his own hands. He concentrates on himself and consults with his family. Many people have opinions. But Josh is a leader and knows exactly what he wants for his career."
This article originally appeared on Mirror