Lahm looks abroad after talks on new Bayern deal break down

(GETTY IMAGES)

Bayern Munich have withdrawn the offer of a new contract to Philipp Lahm after failing to reach agreement with the 24-year-old Germany defender, who said separately yesterday that he is eager to move abroad.

Lahm's current deal runs out at the end of next season and Bayern announced in a statement yesterday that talks on a contract extension had not been successful. Bayern will now have to decide whether to sell him at the end of the season or risk losing him to a free transfer in 2009.

Lahm has been linked with Barcelona in local media reports. "My plan is to leave Bayern before I'm past my peak," Lahm said. "I've played for two years at Stuttgart and I'm in my third year at Bayern, the biggest German club. The logical next step is to go abroad."

Asked if he could leave the club at the end of the current season, Lahm was quoted as saying: "That's quite possible."