Real Madrid, Chelsea and Arsenal are reportedly vying to sign Niklas Sule whose contract with Bayern Munich will be running out at the end of the season.
According to a report from Spanish publication Fichajes, Real Madrid are set to battle it out with Premier League giants Arsenal and Chelsea for the signing of Bayern Munich defender Niklas Sule in 2022.
A product of the TSG Hoffenheim youth academy, Sule signed for Bayern Munich in the summer of 2017. While he has shown great promise, the German has had troubles with injuries as well as consistency issues, which has meant he has not entirely lived up to the potential. To date, he has made 144 appearances, in which he has six goals and three assists.
This season, though, Sule has been an ever-present in the lineup for the record German champions and has done well. A 35-time capped German international, he has entered the final year of his contract with the Bavarian outfit, leading to speculations over his future as clubs line up to sign him on a free transfer.
Real Madrid have set their sights on the 26-year-old centre-back as per the report. The Merengues signed David Alaba from Bayern Munich on a Bosman transfer earlier this year and are now plotting to reunite him with Sule next year. A move makes sense for the Spanish giants as well, considering that they lost both Raphael Varane and Sergio Ramos this past summer.
Furthermore, Jesus Vallejo does not seem to be favoured by manager Carlo Ancelotti while Nacho has largely been used as a full-back in recent games. So, bringing in another top centre-back becomes a necessity for Los Blancos and considering Sule’s age and experience, he can be a viable addition, more so considering that he will cost nothing in transfer fee.
However, they will have to face competition from Premier League giants Chelsea. The Blues have been linked with a move for Sule in the past, with manager Thomas Tuchel keen on working with the 26-year-old, having seen him from close quarters during his time as manager in Germany.
Antonio Rudiger’s contract is running out, and he has been linked with an exit, with Real Madrid themselves chasing him. In addition, Thiago Silva’s deal also expires at the end of the season while Cesar Azpilicueta is not getting any younger either. So, bringing in a fresh face to add some youth to the backline would be a sensible move, making Sule a viable target.
Arsenal, too, have entered the race to sign Sule on a free transfer. The Gunners bolstered their defence last summer with the signing of Ben White, who, after a stuttering start, has impressed of late. But with both Rob Holding and Calum Chambers not exactly regulars in the side, the Gunners could benefit from offloading them and signing an upgrade, which Sule can be.
His potential free agency status would make him an even more attractive proposition for Arsenal, who spent heavily in the last window. What now remains to be seen is if he signs an extension with Bayern Munich or any of the three clubs end up signing him next year.
