Bayern Munich 'Will Consider Activating Marco Reus Release Clause' - Rummenigge

Bayern Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has suggested the club will consider activating the release clause of Borussia Dortmund star Marco Reus.

Reus, who is currently sidelined with an ankle injury, remains one of the most sought after players in European football with Manchester United, Liverpool, Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid among those heavily linked with the midfielder.

Interest is likely to grow further due to a release clause of €25m (£20m) in the German international's contract that will become active next summer.

With no suggestions that the player is willing to pen a new deal, the activation of the clause is expected to spark a flurry of offers from Europe's elite.

One option for Reus is to follow his former teammates Mario Gotze and Robert Lewandowski from the Westfalenstadion to the Allianz Arena, although Bayern insist they have not decided whether to make a move yet.

"If a German international has a release clause, Bayern are obliged to think about him," Rummenigge said in an interview with Sport1, relayed by German newspaper TZ.

"Marcos Reus' release clause is known and whether we take advantage of the situation is something I cannot predict today. We have had every little internal discussion on this matter.

"Of course they [Dortmund] will try to renew his contract and I can also imagine that other top clubs are also interested in signing Reus.

"But at the end, the decision rests with the player on where he wants to play and it should be respected."

Dortmund, who have endured a miserable start to the season due to a number of injuries, spoke confidently of retaining the player during the summer transfer window. And despite his release clause now being common knowledge across Europe, the club still hold faint hope that Reus will choose to remain at the club beyond 2015.

"Marco is a boy from Dortmund," Dortmund's chief executive Hans-Joachim Watzke said in August. "His feet are on the ground and his heart is in the right place. Despite his success, he decided himself to stay.

"We hope that he becomes an icon in his hometown and that he can look back on many unforgettable moments and titles here at the end of his career. He is a world-class player. He is quick, a real goal-threat and possesses great skills. Plus Marco is a leader."