Bayern Munich ‘not planning moves for Declan Rice, Mateo Kovacic’
Bayern Munich reportedly have no plans to move for West Ham United’s Declan Rice or Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic this summer.
With former Blues boss Thomas Tuchel taking over from the recently-axed Julian Nagelsmann last week, the Bundesliga champions are unsurprisingly being tipped to enter the Premier League market.
It has been claimed that Tuchel could try to raid his former West London club, with Kovacic and goalkeeper Edouard Mendy on the German’s wishlist for the 2023-24 season.
Rice, who will be one of the most in-demand midfielders in Europe this summer, is also said to have emerged as a target for Tuchel, who was determined to bring him back to Stamford Bridge during his time in charge of Chelsea.
Rumours began circulating that Rice’s father had met with Bayern chiefs to discuss a summer move, but according to journalist Florian Plettenberg, no such discussions took place.
Rice is supposedly considered too expensive for the Bavarians this summer, and the same goes for Kovacic, with Bayern already well-stocked in the engine room at present.
There are doubts over Ryan Gravenberch’s future at the club amid links with Liverpool, but Konrad Laimer is on the way to the Allianz Arena from RB Leipzig anyway.
Bayern’s lack of interest in deals for Rice and Kovacic will be music to the ears of Premier League sides, many of whom are expected to battle for the pair in the coming months.
Rice’s contract at the London Stadium is up in the summer of 2024, and West Ham have supposedly resigned themselves to losing the England international after he rejected numerous extension offers.
Rice, who has announced his desire to play in the Champions League, has emerged as a priority target for Arsenal, who are said to be increasingly confident of winning the race for his signature.
West Ham have refused to entertain offers for the 24-year-old so far, and it could still take a fee of £80m for the Hammers to consider a sale, although they will likely have to reduce their demands lest they risk the midfielder departing for nothing next year.
As is the case with Rice, Kovacic has fewer than 18 months left on his Chelsea contract, and there are reportedly no talks ongoing over an extension to the Croatian’s deal.
Kovacic could therefore be one of several players to be part of a mass exodus from the Blues, who reported a £121m loss for the 2021-22 season and are in desperate need of raising money through sales.
All of Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City are rumoured to be keeping an eye on the situation of Kovacic, who has posted six goals and 14 assists in 211 games for Chelsea in all tournaments.
