Bayern Munich playmaker Jamal Musiala has reportedly turned down the German champions' offer of a new deal as he targets a move to the Premier League.
The former Chelsea and Southampton youth product has blossomed into one of Europe's most coveted young talents during his time at Bayern, whom he has already played 153 times for at the age of 21.
Musiala has banked 40 goals and 27 assists for the Bavarian giants in that time, including nine goals and four assists from 28 matches in the 2023-24 season, and he has already won 10 major honours at the Allianz Arena.
Musiala's team achievements include four Bundesliga titles, one Champions League and a Club World Cup, but Bayern's 11-year reign of dominance in the German football scene is now on the verge of ending at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen.
Thomas Tuchel's side have won just one of their last four games in the top flight and were held to a 2-2 draw by Freiburg on Friday night, leaving them seven points behind leaders Leverkusen having played an extra game.
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Bayern also have a 1-0 deficit to make up to Lazio in their Champions League last-16 tie, and their bids for stardom in the DFB-Pokal and German Super Cup ended in failure, leaving them at risk of ending the campaign without a single trophy.
Musiala - who has directly contributed to a goal in each of his last three Bundesliga appearances - signed his most recent extension at the Allianz Arena in 2021, and his current terms have just over two years left to run.
As Premier League heavyweights cast a watchful eye over the situation, the Bavarians have been fighting tooth and nail to tie the Germany international down to another new deal, but according to the Daily Star, he has rejected Bayern's offer of a renewal.
Both Man City and Liverpool are said to have sent scouts to watch Musiala in action during Bayern's 3-0 loss to Leverkusen on February 10, at which time the playmaker had a £150,000-a-week offer on the table from his current club.
Musiala had apparently not responded to Bayern's proposal ahead of that top-of-the-table clash, but the report claims that he has now turned down the offer as he sets his sights on a Premier League return.
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Reigning champions Man City supposedly believe that they are leading the race to sign the former England youth international, having been informed of Musiala's contract rejection at the Allianz Arena.
However, Liverpool intend to rival Pep Guardiola's side for Musiala, while Chelsea have also not given up hope of luring the 21-year-old back to West London, where he spent eight years as a youth player from 2011 to 2019.
The 11th-placed Blues' expected lack of European football will severely hinder their chances of reuniting with Musiala, although they could marginally boost their hopes by qualifying for the Europa League via winning the FA Cup.
Should Bayern concede defeat in their efforts to retain Musiala's services, the German champions will demand at least £80m to sell the playmaker, whose wage packet will supposedly cost in the region of £200,000 a week as well.
Ben Knapton
