Bayern to sign Dutch defender Daley Blind

Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich are set to sign Netherlands defender Daley Blind with immediate effect, according to German and Dutch news reports on Thursday, reported dpa.

German paper Bild said that talks started between Christmas and New Year, and Dutch daily De Telegraaf reported that the 32-year-old free agent Blind was on his way to Munich.

Blind is reportedly to receive a contract until the end of the season at Bayern, with an option for a one-year extension.

Blind formerly played at Dutch champions Ajax but his contract was terminated by mutual consent last week, a breach of trust with coach Alfred Schreuder the reported reason.

The left back and holding midfielder Blind has won 99 Netherlands caps and featured in all of their five games at the recent World Cup in Qatar.

At Bayern, he would join compatriots Matthijs de Ligt and Ryan Gravenberch.

Munich have lost their French defender Lucas Hernandez for the rest of the season with a severe knee injury sustained in France's first World Cup game.

The Bundesliga leaders are set to fly to Qatar on Friday for a six-day training camp. The league resumes from its World Cup and winter break on January 20, when Bayern visit German Cup winners RB Leipzig.