Jose Mourinho thinks Liverpool have just given up on 'one of the world's best players'

Liverpool have reportedly withdrawn from the race to sign Joshua Kimmich, who once branded "absolutely phenomenal". The 29-year-old star has been on Liverpool's radar for some time, with ex-manager Jurgen Klopp also known to be an admirer.

With his contract at the Allianz Arena expiring in the summer and extension talks making little progress, Kimmich's exit this summer seems more and more plausible. However, Anfield doesn't appear to be his next destination, as current Reds manager Arne Slot is said to be satisfied with his midfield options.

Liverpool were after a midfielder last summer and almost signed Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad, but that deal at the eleventh hour. Now, it appears their midfield transfer ambitions are on hold.

This decision may not come as a shock, especially considering the impressive performances from the likes of Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones this season. Nonetheless, Kimmich's credentials as a top-tier central midfielder are undeniable, and his versatility is unmatched.

Mourinho, in 2020, extolled Kimmich's virtues to , highlighting his intelligence and adaptability across multiple positions. "I see him as a top right-back, left-back, centre-back, No.6, No.8, No.10... he has qualities to be anything," the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham manager said.

"He's intelligent and understands what he has to do here and what he has to do there. I think he's phenomenal - absolutely phenomenal player. I'm a team coach and not an individual coach."

Mourinho added: "For me, the team is much more important than the individuals. For Bayern to win the Champions League is much more important than for somebody to win an individual award but I see this kid [Kimmich] with Lewandowski [and] Neuer. I see this kid with these guys in an elite group capable of winning individual awards."

It was little over a year ago that Liverpool were reportedly planning to make an offer for the player. It's understood that Klopp had intentions to lure Kimmich to Merseyside last summer, but those plans were likely scrapped when he decided to step down.

Germany International Kimmich, who began his career as a midfielder at RB Leipzig, moved to Bayern Munich in 2015 and initially converted to a full-back role. But due to his technical prowess, he soon reverted to midfield and has spent the past decade rotating between the two positions.

A fixture in Vincent Kompany's team during the current campaign, he seems to be enjoying his time under management by the ex-Manchester City captain. Though a decision regarding his future has yet to be made, Kimmich has indicated his likelihood of staying, citing the team's recent form as a deciding factor, as well as how settled his family has become in Bavaria.

"The likelihood of me staying is much greater than it was in the summer because I can see how we are playing football," he said. "That also has a lot to do with the coach. All of Germany can see that we are playing football in a different way. It looks much better. It's fun in training and on the pitch. Of course there are many, many good reasons to extend the contract. For me, it's a fundamental decision. It's about where you can be most successful in the next three to four years."

Should contract talks fail, Manchester City and are poised to swoop in, with both Pep Guardiola and Hansi Flick eyeing reunions with the player. Guardiola brought Kimmich to Bayern in 2015, while Flick, who sees Kimmich as a perfect fit in his Camp Nou midfield, won seven major honours, including an iconic Treble in 2020, alongside Kimmich in Munich.