Vincent Kompany is confident that in Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich have Germany's best goalkeeper, after the 40-year-old signed a one-year contract extension with the club.

Neuer's glittering career with Bayern will stretch into a 16th season after he committed his future to the club through 2026-27 on Friday, with backup Sven Ulreich doing likewise.  

Neuer's new deal comes at the same time as speculation linking him with a return to Julian Nagelsmann's Germany squad for the World Cup intensifies. 

He retired from international duty after helping them reach the quarter-finals of Euro 2024, having won 124 caps for his country and helped them win a fourth World Cup in 2014.

Since then, the Bayern goalkeeper has repeatedly pushed back on claims he could return to Nagelsmann's plans, with Hoffenheim's Oliver Baumann winning the number one shirt in World Cup qualifying. 

But, ahead of Bayern's final game of the Bundesliga season, against Koln on Saturday, reports suggested Neuer could be included in Germany's preliminary 55-man squad for the tournament.

Germany have been drawn into Group E alongside Ecuador, Ivory Coast and Curacao, with the latter behind their first opponents in Houston on June 14.

Asked about that speculation, Bayern boss Kompany simply said: "I have to think of my colleague Julian Nagelsmann, who now has this full pressure of picking a squad for the World Cup.

"Bayern are the German champions, and we have the best German goalkeeper. That says it all."

Neuer's contract extension was confirmed shortly after Kompany's pre-match press conference on Friday, and he is relishing the chance to add to the 24 major titles he has already won with the club. 

"It took a bit longer because I really wanted to take my time with it, as it was a very important decision for me," Neuer told the club's website. "It feels really good.

"I've played some good games this season, I can still help the team. We have a great coaching staff, a great team, and we have the opportunity to win every competition and beat any opponent. That's why I'm delighted to be staying for another year."

Bayern clinched the Bundesliga title back on April 19, and there have been suggestions that Kompany could rest players against Koln, given the champions have a DFB-Pokal final against Stuttgart to come next week.

But Kompany wants to see his team finish the campaign strongly before looking ahead to the cup final and planning for 2026-27.

"Of course, we still have this very important cup final, but we have had a lot of success this season – and many players have developed who have given us something extra.

"The bar is very, very high now. And the aim remains that we want to develop again next year. That's the next task now."

Koln are six points clear of the relegation-promotion play-off place ahead of the final matchday, so also have nothing but pride to play for – though they could finish anywhere between 13th and 15th.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Bayern Munich – Michael Olise 

By scoring in a 1-0 win at Wolfsburg last weekend, Olise recorded his 34th direct goal contribution of this Bundesliga season (15 goals, 19 assists), a new record for a winger since data collection began in 2004-05. 

His four goals from outside the penalty area are a joint league-best figure, alongside Harry Kane. Since data collection began, only one Bayern player has scored more goals from distance in a Bundesliga season – Michael Ballack in 2005-06 (five).

Koln – Jakub Kaminski

Kaminski is one of three Koln players in double figures for Bundesliga goal involvements this season (seven goals, three assists), alongside Said El Mala (16) and Ragnar Ache (11).

He also leads the way for chances created among Koln players this term, laying on 49 opportunities for his team-mates. 

MATCH PREDICTION: BAYERN MUNICH WIN

Since a 3-2 away defeat in the Bundesliga in February 2011, Bayern have not lost any of their last 22 competitive matches against Koln (W20 D2). 

Among the current Bundesliga clubs, they are only on a longer current unbeaten run against Wolfsburg (25 competitive matches).

And, with 86 points after 33 matches, Bayern are enjoying their third-best Bundesliga season – only in 2012-13 (88) and 2013-14 (87) did they have more points at this stage. 

For the third time, after 2012-13 and 1986-87, Bayern could finish a Bundesliga season with only one defeat, and even if Kompany shuffles his pack, they are clear favourites for victory.

Koln have won only one of their last 13 Bundesliga matches (D6 L6), a 3-1 home win against Werder Bremen in April.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Bayern Munich – 75.9%

Koln – 9.6%

Draw – 14.5%