‘Is he that desperate?’ - Liverpool icon wants Tuchel to reject any Bayern Munich offer

Erstwhile Liverpool defender Steve Nicol wants Thomas Tuchel to reject any opportunity to remain at Bayern Munich beyond Saturday’s May 18 visit to Hoffenheim. 

The 2021 Champions League-winning manager’s departure from the deposed Bundesliga champions was announced in February, with Xabi Alonso the club’s preferred candidate to replace the 50-year-old tactician. 

However, the former midfielder’s choice to remain at Bayer Leverkusen has seen Die Bayern scramble across several options and have had former boss Julian Nagelsmann choose to stay with the Germany national team, Ralf Rangnick deciding to remain with Austria and Crystal Palace demanding an astronomical €100m (£86m) fee for new boss Oliver Glasner. 

Reports from Germany suggest that the club’s sporting directors Max Eberl and Christoph Freund are pushing to retain Tuchel for another year at least, leading to Nicol’s remarks on ESPN. 

The 1989 Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year condemned the club's treatment of Tuchel and hopes the outgoing Bayern boss opts against remaining at a club that have publicly courted other options. 

“He can’t stay at Bayern Munich,” Nicol said on ESPN. “Has he got any self-respect?” “They’ve shoved it in his face that they want him out of the door, so why on earth would he make himself look so bad by saying ‘okay, I’ll stay here’? 

“Is he that desperate? If Thomas Tuchel’s got any respect for himself he doesn’t stay.”

Tuchel has been linked to a Premier League return, with Manchester United rumoured to be keen on the former Chelsea boss.

No agreement has been reached, and the 50-year-old is expected to become a free agent this summer unless Bayern make an offer or the Red Devils relieve Erik ten Hag of his duties after the FA Cup final on May 25. 

Bayern face Hoffenheim on May 18 to conclude their Bundesliga campaign.