Joshua Kimmich should be offered the Bayern Munich captaincy in order to persuade him to renew his contract, former Bayern and Germany great Lothar Matthäus has suggested.

Full back and midfielder Kimmich (29) is yet to sign a renewal beyond the season. He has been at Bayern since 2015, is a key player, and Bayern do not want to lose him.

Kimmich was named national team captain in autumn after the international retirement of Manuel Neuer. But the 38-year-old Neuer remains Bayern captain and is expected to play for another season.

Matthäus told Wednesday’s edition of the Sport Bild weekly that Bayern should offer Kimmich the captaincy, either immediately, or in summer.

The captain of Germany’s 1990 World Cup winning team said such a decision would not hurt Neuer, or veteran forward Thomas Müller, who could also be a candidate.

“The people in charge at Bayern and [coach] Vincent Kompany should think about whether they should promote Kimmich to captain ahead of time – despite Neuer and Thomas Müller. And I say that with all due respect to Neuer and Müller,” Matthäus said.

“Holding both positions at the same time is something historic, which would appeal to him and would be a great honour.

“You could already discuss a change of captain in the winter, although that could bring unrest to the club before the start of the second half of the season.

“But I would make Kimmich captain for the new season at the latest – despite Neuer’s impending extension. Manuel could cope with that. He doesn’t have to insist on being captain after all these years,” Mattäus said.

Bundesliga leaders Bayern start the second part of the season on Saturday at Borussia Mönchengladbach. 

– Nampa/AFP