Bayern Munich want Chelsea coach Anthony Barry.
And the highly rated Englishman has put in a formal request to be allowed to join the German club.
It follows the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as the new boss of Bayern, succeeding the sacked Julian Nagelsmann.
Barry worked under Tuchel at Chelsea, and the pair formed a close working relationship. The 36 year old is regarded as a leading set-piece specialist, whilst some have credited him with being one of the masterminds behind their 2021 Champions League triumph.
He has previously been tipped to land a manager role himself, with the likes of Cardiff City, Aberdeen and Tranmere Rovers all interested in acquiring his services.
So trusted is he at Chelsea, that it is reported that, following Tuchel’s sacking, Todd Boehly even contemplated putting Barry in temporary charge of the club before giving the manager’s job to Graham Potter.
Chelsea are demanding compensation from the German club from Bayern, and talks between the two have now started.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.