Chelsea are set to miss out on Stuttgart striker Nick Woltemade as he has agreed to join Bayern Munich, according to reports in Germany.
The 23-year-old joined Stuttgart on a free transfer last summer and turned out to be one of the best signings in the Bundesliga as he scored 12 goals last season.
Woltemade has now taken that form into the European Under-21 Championship this summer as he has found the net six times for Germany, who play England in the final on Saturday night.
Earlier this month, Bild reported that Chelsea have been monitoring Woltemade’s performances for Stuttgart and have held talks with the striker’s representatives.
However, Sky Germany reported this week that Woltemade has now verbally agreed to join Bayern Munich this summer.
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Stuttgart, who finished ninth in the Bundesliga and won the DFB Pokal last season, are said to be upset by Bayern’s direct approach for their striker, who still has three years remaining on his contract.
‘The fact that this development hasn’t gone unnoticed by others and that we now read about interest from other clubs almost every day doesn’t change the fact that Nick’s journey with us is far from over,’ Stuttgart’s sporting director, Fabian Wohlgemuth, said this week.
‘We are firmly planning with Nick and want to benefit from his athletic qualities in the coming year as well. There is no alternative planning scenario for this.’
Kicker reported on Saturday that Bayern had hoped to secure a deal for around €50 million (£42.7m), but Stuttgart are demanding a package worth €100m (£85.4m).
When asked about Bayern’s reported approach for Woltemade this week, the German club’s president, Herbert Hainer, said: ‘All I can say is that Nick Woltemade has developed well at Stuttgart and that we as Germany fans are happy he is playing for the Under-21s and scoring many goals.
‘He’s playing a very, very good season. But whether he’ll ever play for Bayern is written in the stars.’
Bayern’s sporting director, Christoph Freund, also said this week: ‘Nick is playing very well. He’s a player who’s very interesting.’
On Friday, Woltemade refused to answer questions about his future when asked about his link with a move to Bayern.
‘We’re playing a final tomorrow, that’s the only focus,’ Woltemade said.
‘There are always things happening around you. It doesn’t just affect me, but the others too.
‘This is the only chance in my life to win the Under-21 title and I want to do it.’
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