Bayern Munich are close to agreeing a deal to sign Konrad Laimer from RB Leipzig in the summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The club have been chasing the midfielder for a while and now finally look set to complete a deal.
The 25-year-old has made just six appearances for Leipzig this season as he has been absent with a long-term injury after tearing a ligament in September, but has scored 11 and assisted 18 times in 167 games for the club overall.
An all-action player, it is expected that he will line up as a central midfielder alongside Jamal Musiala or Leon Goretzka.
Romano has tweeted an update on the deal, with the player set to sign a five-year contract.
He claimed: “Bayern are closing in on Konrad Laimer deal for 2023, confirmed as reported months ago. Verbal agreement almost ready.
“There’s still nothing signed but verbal deal prepared and intention clear: Laimer wants Bayern, Nagelsmann wants him since 2021. Here we go soon.
“Laimer would join Bayern as free agent in June 2023 despite interest and also approaches from English clubs. There’s verbal negotiations at final stages, still waiting to sign documents.
“Laimer will leave RB Leipzig after he accepted to stay in the summer.”
TIF Thoughts on Laimer and Bayern…
Although Bayern have plenty of options in midfield, Laimer will bring an injection of quality as yet another signing from within the Bundesliga.
As per FBref, he ranks in the top 15% of midfielders for assists, dribbles and blocks, highlighting his quality in multiple aspects of his game, while he knows Julian Nagelsmann well, having made 46 appearances under the German coach at Leipzig.
The Austrian could therefore prove to be a very useful addition, and a player with that much quality arriving for free represents an excellent bit of business.