Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool express interest in £50m Bayern forward Lennart Karl

Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have all expressed their interest in signing Bayern Munich forward Lennart Karl, according to a TEAMtalk report. The 18-year-old, valued at around £50m by Transfermarkt, has struggled for regular game time this season, and intermediaries are now exploring a new destination for him.

  • Clubs interested: Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool have expressed interest in Lennart Karl
  • Also in the race: Real Madrid and Barcelona are monitoring the situation
  • Valuation: Around £50m, per Transfermarkt
  • Contract: Karl recently signed a fresh deal keeping him at Bayern Munich until 2029
  • Player profile: 18-year-old left-footed right-winger, also comfortable in creative midfield
  • Source: TEAMtalk report, dated October 26, 2026

Deal details

No fee has been agreed and no formal bid has been submitted. According to the report, Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool have expressed their interest, with intermediaries making calls to find a suitable destination for the 18-year-old.

United have reportedly been made aware of his current situation, while Liverpool and Arsenal have been monitoring his development closely for a while. Both clubs know about the situation and could make a move if he eventually becomes available.

Bayern Munich are said to be in a strong position to demand a big fee if they are forced to cash in, having recently tied Karl down to a fresh contract until 2029. Transfermarkt values him at around £50m.

Real Madrid and Barcelona are also in this race, so any Premier League move would face competition from two of La Liga's biggest clubs. The stage of the interest is exploratory rather than advanced.

Injury and availability

Bukayo Saka has sustained a recent injury and is likely to remain sidelined for a few weeks, which is part of why Arsenal are exploring right-wing options. No return date beyond that timeframe is given in the source.

Benjamin Sesko has had recent fitness problems at Manchester United, which has forced Michael Carrick to use Bryan Mbeumo in the striker position. No further detail on the nature or length of Sesko's issue is provided.

Why all three clubs are circling the same winger

The link makes sense for each suitor for a different reason. At Manchester United, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo are the current right-flank options, but Sesko's fitness problems and Joshua Zirkzee's below-average performances have pushed Mbeumo into the striker role. That leaves the right side thin, and Karl's ability to also operate as a creative midfielder would give Michael Carrick a second way to use him.

At Liverpool, Mohamed Salah's departure this summer was followed by the signings of Bradley Barcola and Victor Muñoz, but neither winger is a like-for-like replacement for the Egyptian. Karl is left-footed and by trait a right-winger — the exact profile Liverpool have been trying to replace — which is why their monitoring stretches back a while.

Arsenal currently have Noni Madueke and Bukayo Saka as right-wing options, but Saka's recent injury and expected few weeks on the sidelines have sharpened the need for depth. Karl is quick, can dribble past defenders in tight areas and is efficient at creating chances for fellow attackers, so he would be a shrewd acquisition for any of the three should one eventually secure him.

The complication is Bayern's leverage. A contract to 2029 and a reported £50m valuation mean the German champions can hold firm, and with Real Madrid and Barcelona also watching, the price will not fall. Karl's limited minutes and Bayern's reported concern over his off-field behaviour are the reasons a market has opened at all.

Talking points

  • Is an 18-year-old with limited minutes worth £50m to a Premier League side, or is Bayern's valuation inflated by a contract running to 2029?
  • Liverpool signed Barcola and Muñoz after Salah's departure — does chasing Karl suggest they already doubt that replacement plan?
  • Arsenal's right side is well stocked when Saka is fit, so would Karl accept a squad role or demand guarantees?
  • Bayern's reported concern over Karl's off-field behaviour is a warning sign, but is it enough to deter United, Arsenal or Liverpool?

What happens next

Nothing is imminent. The report describes interest and monitoring rather than a bid, so the next concrete step would be Bayern deciding Karl is available and intermediaries formalising interest into an offer. With Real Madrid and Barcelona also in the race, the Premier League trio must decide whether to move early or risk being outbid.

Frequently asked questions

Are Man Utd, Arsenal and Liverpool interested in Lennart Karl?

Yes. According to the TEAMtalk report, all three have expressed their interest in signing the Bayern Munich forward.

How much would Lennart Karl cost?

He is valued at around £50m by Transfermarkt, and Bayern Munich are in a strong position to demand a big fee because he recently signed a contract until 2029.

Which other clubs want Lennart Karl?

Real Madrid and Barcelona are also in the race alongside Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, per the report.

Filed under: Transfer Rumours | LA Premier League Home