Chelsea are “looking” into the possibility of recruiting RB Leipzig midfielder Konrad Laimer on a free transfer, according to journalist Simon Phillips.

The Austrian international is out of contract at the end of the season and he is not expected to put pen to paper on an extension to keep him at the Bundesliga side.

Laimer was heavily linked with Liverpool in the summer, and the player admitted last month that a move to the Premier League would be something he would consider:

“I’ve been in Leipzig for five years and I feel good. Now, it will be a year longer and then we will see what happens. I generally like watching the Premier League. I’ve always been a Liverpool fan.”

Reports in Germany do suggest, however, that Bayern Munich are now the heavy favourites to secure the 25-year-old’s signature. It has been claimed that Laimer has a verbal agreement to join the German champions.

Foreign teams, including Chelsea, will be able to hold talks with Laimer directly in January but, if he has already given his word to another club, the Blues may be better off looking elsewhere.