Jerome Boateng Transfer News: Latest Rumours on Bayern Munich Defender

Bayern Munich centre-back Jerome Boateng is reportedly being targeted by several Premier League and La Liga clubs, but according to his agent, the Bavarian giants “have the means” to keep him at the Allianz Arena for the foreseeable future.

Continue for updates.

Boateng Expected to Stay With Bundesliga Champions

Thursday, October 22

The defender's agent, Christian Nerlinger, confirmed there is a lot of interest in the services of his client during a recent interview with Kicker (h/t ESPN FC's Stephan Uersfeld).

He also said Bayern have everything in place to keep the Germany international at the club, saying: "He has stirred interest at Spanish and English top clubs. When Bayern want to keep a player then they also have the means to succeed in doing so."

That last sentence makes it sound like the agent is angling for a new and improved contract. Boateng's current deal runs until 2018.

The 27-year-old has exploded since moving from Manchester City to Bayern Munich in 2011, emerging as arguably the best defender in the world.

Club sporting director Matthias Sammer doesn't doubt Boateng's position in the pecking order, speaking to Audi Star Talk (h/t Goal's Matthew Rogerson), and even he sounded surprised when discussing his development:

His whole development has been amazing.

He has stabilised his play and now he is a complete player. So he won the Champions League with Bayern Munich and he won the World Cup with Germany. 

There's no question that he is the best defender in the world.

It is a very great compliment for Jerome Boateng that his style of play is linked with the legendary Franz Beckenbauer.

I like it very much that Jerome is already called Kaiser by some other players.

The move back to his native Germany was the key turning point in Boateng's career, and as a result, he's not expected to seriously consider leaving Bavaria. His choice of agent only backs that up: Before becoming a representative, Nerlinger was the club's sporting director until he was replaced by Sammer in 2012.

Should the 2014 World Cup winner become available, there would likely be a long line of potential suitors lining up bids.

Boateng has everything coaches look for in modern defenders, including athleticism, vision and technique with the ball at his feet. He also has the ability to win duels without committing too many fouls, as evidenced by the fact he saw just two bookings in the Bundesliga last season, per WhoScored.com.

He's not the greatest header of the ball despite standing well over 6' tall, per Transfermarkt.co.uk, but that would be just about the only weakness in his game.

His ability to carry the ball forward and contribute in the passing game more than makes up for the lack of goals he'll score on set pieces every season.

Nerlinger will likely sit down with the Bundesliga champions to discuss a new deal very soon, as Bayern will not want to lose their defensive anchor.

The supposedly interested Premier League and La Liga clubs should keep a close eye on the negotiations, but in all likelihood, they will result in in an extended stay with Bayern.