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Bayern Munich defender Niklas Süle looks to be staying put this summer as Julian Nagelsmann has reportedly determined that he needs the 25-year-old for the season per Sport1 journalist Florian Plettenberg (as captured by Twitter account @iMiaSanMia).
There has been rampant speculation about Süle’s future from the time the signing of Dayot Upamecano was announced last winter. Now, however, it seems like Süle will do battle for a starting role. The big man reportedly showed up to training camp in good shape (one of the biggest knocks on him over the years has been his fitness) and ready to show that he is not going to cede his position on the team:
Niklas Süle is unlikely to leave FC Bayern this summer. Julian Nagelsmann needs the defender and there are currently no hot tracks leading to other clubs [Podcast Meine Bayern-Woche, @Plettigoal] pic.twitter.com/LPiPj5BBL9
— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) August 6, 2021
Plettenberg himself chimed in with a tweet stating that Süle has very well so far under Nagelsmann and is battling Tanguy Nianzou for a starting role in the opener:
Update #FCBayern: Josip Stanisic currently has the best cards to be in the starting 11 against @borussia as a left-back. Internally, he is currently rated stronger than Omar Richards. Süle's training performance is currently rated very well. He is dueling with Nianzou. @SPORT1
— Florian Plettenberg (@Plettigoal) August 6, 2021
Bild says that Nianzou is currently ahead of Süle because of his performances during this preseason, but it remains to be seen if Nagelsmann would bypass an established veteran for a younger, more inexperienced player to start the season.
Süle, who was rumored to be a transfer target of Chelsea FC, is entering the final season of his contract, though. If Bayern Munich does not reach an agreement with the defender this summer, the club could risk losing another valuable commodity for free next summer.
After losing both David Alaba and Jerome Boateng for free during this transfer window, it is certain that Bavarians would like to avoid letting another talented player walk away for nothing.