Marcus Thuram is expected to leave Borussia Monchengladbach at the end of the season on a free transfer, with Chelsea and Inter reportedly showing interest.
The France international’s contract expires at the end of June, and Gladbach sporting director Roland Virkus made it clear Sunday that Gladbach stand to lose him.
Thuram has reportedly drawn interest from a number of elite clubs in Europe, with Inter reportedly leading the charge alongside Chelsea and Gladbach’s Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.
Only five players in Germany’s top division have more goal involvements than the 25-year-old, who has 11 goals and three assists so far this season.
Virkus appeared to acknowledge in his interview with Sport1 that Gladbach’s attempts to keep the talented Lilian Thuram’s son were likely to fail.
He said: “With Marcus Thuram we stretched. We have to accept that when there are even bigger clubs where Marcus might go.”
Virkus added: “The fact that players will leave us for free is not a positive situation, and I can’t sugarcoat it.”
Gladbach sit eighth in the Bundesliga after Thuram scored in a 3-2 victory over 10-man Bayern on Saturday.