Harry Diamond
Liverpool are reportedly ‘pushing hard’ in the the race to sign David Alaba, though Real Madrid remain in ‘pole position’ to sign the Bayern Munich defender on a free transfer.
Alaba will leave Bayern on a free transfer next summer after failing to agree a new deal with the European champions, with a host of Europe’s leading clubs having expressed an interest in signing a player who is set to be one of the leading free agents in next summer’s market.
According to the Guardian, Liverpool have made an approach for the Austria international and are ‘pushing hard’ in a bid to convince the player to move to the Premier League.
Liverpool have been hindered by a succession of injuries this season with first-choice centre-back duo Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez ruled out for the majority of the campaign with serious knee injuries, whilst Joel Matip has struggled for fitness over the past 18 months.
Jurgen Klopp has utilised midfielder Fabinho as a central defender for much of the season, with the inexperienced Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips having featured regularly following Dejan Lovren’s summer sale to Zenit St Petersburg.
Real Madrid remain in ‘pole position’ to sign Alaba, however, and are keen to secure the defender – who can play centrally, at left-back or even in midfield – as they bid to strengthen their backline, with uncertainty remaining regarding the future of club captain Sergio Ramos.
Alaba has spent his entire senior career with Bayern to date and has won nine league titles and two Champions League trophies amongst a vast collection of major honours, though the German giants withdrew their contract offer to the player after being unwilling to match his demands.
Alaba has also been linked with the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City in recent weeks.
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