Bayern Munich coach praises Niklas Sule amid Chelsea links

Paul Macdonald

• Updated: 20 May 2021 11:26 BST
• 2 min read

Bayern Munich boss Hansi Flick insists defender Niklas Sule still has a future at the club despite a lack of recent playing time and transfer links to Chelsea.

Sule, 25, suffered a serious knee injury last year and is struggling to find a regular spot in the team this time around having started just two of Bayern’s last six Bundesliga games and played in just 12 all season.

His contract runs out next year, and with Thomas Tuchel recently taking the reins at Stamford Bridge, there is speculation that he wants to bring the Germany international to west London.

Sule’s Bayern teammate David Alaba, who is out of contract in the summer, and RB Leipzig defender Dayot Upamecano, are also said to be on the German coach’s wanted list.

‘Niklas is an absolute option’

But Flick has backed Sule to play a big part in Bayern’s defences of their Bundesliga and Champions League titles this season.

“Niklas is an absolute option, whether in the centre or full-back position,” he said.

“He did well at Schalke [in a 4-0 win last month when Sule played at right-back]. Don’t forget that he had a long injury.

“Niklas is a fast player who is calm on the ball and helps shape the game from the back. Given his size, he has absolute strength and I’m glad he’s on our team.

“We will see how everything develops and how he sees his future. I am satisfied with his development, you can rely on him.”

It hasn’t been the smoothest season for Bayern since they won a seventh European title by beating PSG in Lisbon last August, but they currently sit seven points clear at the top of the league table ahead of their return to continental action later this month.

Italian side Lazio stand in their way of progression to the Champions League quarter finals, and there is a real possibility that Flick will be rotating to maintain freshness in his squad over the coming weeks.

Were Sule to join Chelsea, he would add to an already sizeable German contingency which includes Antonio Rudiger, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz as well as Tuchel, who replaced Frank Lampard after he was sacked at the end of January.