Niklas Süle remaining open about his future at Bayern Munich or elsewhere

There is growing concern over the fact that Niklas Süle’s future at Bayern Munich is in question. The defender’s current contract with the club is set to expire, but the club’s front office have yet to signal that they’re ready to sit down with him to try and negotiate a new deal. Of course, that certainly doesn’t mean that’s not a realistic possibility, but there’s been no indication that's occurring, or is scheduled to occur at any point in the near future.

As it stands, if no new deal is agreed upon, Süle could leave on a free transfer next summer, and could technically sign a pre-agreement with another club as early as this January. In a recent interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, the defender commented on his future and said that he is keeping things open (via Sport1). “Of course, I’m thinking about my future, but I really can’t say what it will bring,” he said. He’s enjoyed a solid start to the season under Julian Nagelsmann and has started all but one of Bayern’s competitive matches this season, which was the 4-1 win at RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga.

From Bayern’s perspective, especially with Süle’s ability to deputize as both a center back and a right back, it would be a huge loss for them to lose him on a free transfer. The club has already tied down Joshua Kimmich and Leon Goretzka to new deals with Serge Gnabry and Thomas Müller soon to follow suit. Süle is, without question, a part of that same core of players that have been vociferous about their desire to stay together at Bayern. Wages could be a potential roadblock if and when negotiations are opened up between the club and the player, but Süle would only be asking for roughly (reportedly) €10m per year, which wouldn’t even make him anywhere near a top earner at Bayern.

Even though it’s slightly daunting, there haven’t been any negotiations that we know of yet, Süle is remaining open about his future, and said he enjoys life in Munich. “What I can say: My girlfriend and I are incredibly happy here in Munich, my son was born here, my brother is here, but I still have to first realize what is best for me. I’ll try to stay completely fit and play well when I get the coach’s trust. What will happen in the next weeks or months is completely open,” he said.

Nagelsmann could potentially have a lot of leverage for what is ultimately decided with Süle’s future. The two worked together at TSG Hoffenheim earlier in their careers, so Nagelsmann is quite familiar with Süle in addition to both Marcel Sabitzer and Dayot Upamecano, who he worked with at Leipzig. Süle has now been with Bayern for over four seasons since joining from Hoffenheim in 2017 and he still feels like he has a lot to owe Bayern. “I know that I owe a lot to Bayern, but I think Bayern can be very satisfied with the transfer they made with me back then. If both sides come to the conclusion that it is still a good match, I would do everything I can to stay here. Otherwise, I could say that I would say: I’m free and I dare to do something new again,” he explained.