Bayern Munich will not be extending Jerome Boateng's contract once it expires at the end of the season.
That's according to the German club's sporting director, Hasan Salihamidzic, who confirmed the news prior to Bayern's Champions League clash with Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday evening.
Boateng sees his contract with the current Champions League holders expire in the summer and now looks set to leave the club once it does.
Speaking to Sky, via Bundesliga News, Salihamidzic said: "That was a joint decision of the club's management and the coach was also involved in it.
"I explained it to Jerome, and he was very understanding."
The 32-year-old - who has been with Bayern Munich since 2011 - has been linked with a return to the Premier League, with Arsenal and Chelsea both reportedly interested in his services.
Boateng spent a season at Manchester City, where he made 16 appearances in the league, before moving to the Bundesliga giants a year later.
During his time at the Allianz Arena, the experienced German defender has won eight Bundesliga titles, five DFB-Pokal trophies, two Champions League crowns and has also been involved in two Club World Cup triumphs.
With Bayern seven points clear at the top of the German top-flight, it looks set to be nine league medals for Boateng before he says goodbye to the side he's represented for nearly 10 years.
The Gunners are reportedly keen on the former City centre-back as Mikel Arteta looks to add a dominant defender to his ranks.
As for the Blues, with Thiago Silva's future at Stamford Bridge still uncertain, Thomas Tuchel may turn to another experienced central defender to bolster his options.
One potential stumbling block for either of the London rivals could be Boateng's reported wages - which are at £210,000-a-week at Bayern as it stands, according to Wage Indicator.
