Chelsea are reportedly on alert as Bayern Munich struggle to extend the contract of attacking sensation Serge Gnabry.
A recent report from SportBild has offered an update on Serge Gnabry. The former Arsenal prodigy faces an uncertain future at Bayern Munich as the two parties have reached an impasse over a new deal. Gnabry’s current contract at the Allianz Arena expires at the end of next season, which has put Chelsea on alert.
The report states the Blues are keeping a close eye on Gnabry’s current situation, knowing the player himself likes the city of London. He would be open to returning to the Premier League should he fail to find a resolution with Bayern Munich.
Having racked up 59 goals and 39 assists in 157 competitive appearances for Bayern, Gnabry is considered one of the most crucial attacking outlets for the Bavarians. However, the winger earns significantly less than his two fellow attackers in Leroy Sane and Kingsley Coman, who has recently extended his contract at the club.
It has compelled Gnabry to demand a similar salary, but it has not gone down all too well with the Bayern Munich board. The German Rekordmeister are facing a sticky situation as a majority of star players, including Thomas Muller, Manuel Neuer and Robert Lewandowski, have their contracts expiring at the end of next season.
The financial implication of the lengthening pandemic has made it almost impossible for Bayern to renew all of their star players. It could ultimately lead to the departure of one or two established superstars, with Muller already attracting interest from Newcastle United.
However, it is Gnabry who is more likely to leave, considering the fact that Muller, Neuer and Lewandowski all hold legendary status in Munich and simply cannot be replaced. It is, therefore, not a surprise why the Bavarians have been in contention to sign a new winger, with Leeds United ace Raphinha among the players currently on their radar.
A potential Premier League return for Gnabry could certainly be interesting, with Chelsea emerging as a potential destination. The Blues have no shortage of attacking options at their disposal, but the likes of Christian Pulisic and Callum Hudson-Odoi have not been performing consistently enough.
Pulisic had even been linked with an exit in January and could move on in the summer, opening up a spot for Gnabry in the Chelsea squad. However, the reigning European champions are set to face stiff competition from Manchester United, while La Liga giants Barcelona and Real Madrid also remain in contention.
Given the variety of attacking stars Chelsea have at their disposal, it will be interesting to see if the two parties can work out a potential swap deal, although the Blues would ideally want to sign the 26-year-old attacker in 2023 on a free transfer.
