Premier League Giants Battle for Rising Bundesliga Sensation
Representatives from Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester City are all monitoring Bayern Munich's rising talent Lennart Karl closely, according to German media reports.
Karl, who is just 17 years old, had his Bayern breakthrough at the Club World Cup and has subsequently featured in 11 matches for Vincent Kompany's senior squad, finding the net in both domestic league and European competition while operating mainly on the right flank.
Benefiting from a chance that might not have materialized if Bayern had successfully secured Florian Wirtz from Liverpool during the transfer window, Karl is now drawing attention from several top European clubs.
As reported by BILD, the English Premier League clubs Arsenal, Chelsea and Man City are all monitoring Karl's progress, raising worries about a possible departure from Bavaria.
Karl penned fresh terms with Bayern over the summer and remains contracted until 2028, though Sky Germany indicates he has already secured a professional deal that becomes active when he reaches 18 in February 2026.
No buyout clause is anticipated to exist for Karl, whose attention is reportedly centered entirely on establishing himself at Bayern.
Joshua Kimmich, Arjen Robben Heap Praise on Karl
Karl stands among the most promising talents in German football currently, with few players across the continent generating similar excitement at the beginning of the 2025–26 season.
"I hope he savors this initial period of his career," teammate Joshua Kimmich told BILD. "There's no burden yet, no demands. He should simply continue forward. It will be crucial that he maintains his intensity in practice, which he's demonstrating. We'll monitor that aspect. Then he can enter and start matches while making his impact."
Bayern icon Arjen Robben, currently serving as a youth mentor with Dutch club Groningen, also offered guidance for the young player.
"You must develop yourself daily and cannot assume: 'I just delivered an excellent performance, everything's perfect.' You must continue driving forward in practice and avoid becoming satisfied with your current level.
"That's what separates why the truly exceptional players maintain their position at the highest level for extended periods. Reaching that level is one challenge, but remaining there is entirely different."