Chelsea have expressed interest in securing the services of Bayern Munich defender David Alaba as Frank Lampard looks to add more versatility to his squad.
According to Guillem Balague, as relayed by The Sun, David Alaba has emerged as a key target for Chelsea. Manager Frank Lampard has identified the Bayern Munich defender as the perfect candidate as he aims to add more versatility in his squad in the upcoming summer transfer window.
However, Chelsea aren’t the only club interested in Alaba, with Juventus, Real Madrid and Barcelona also monitoring his situation. The defender’s current contract at Bayern Munich expires at the end of next season, so there is no surprise as to why he has been linked with a move away from Allianz Arena.
Indeed, Alaba is regarded as one of the world’s best left-backs, having established himself as a first-team member for Bayern since the 2011/12 campaign. During his ongoing spell in Bavaria, the Austrian international has featured in 372 competitive matches while winning 72 caps for his national team.
This season, however, Alaba’s role at Bayern has changed, largely due to the injury crisis the Bundesliga giants have had to deal with. With Lucas Hernandez and Niklas Sule both struggling with injuries, the ex-Werder Bremen starlet has been forced to operate in a central defensive role.
Alaba hasn’t disappointed either, forming a formidable defensive partnership with Jerome Boateng. Meanwhile, his deputy at left-back, Alphonso Davies, has emerged as one of the rising stars in the Bundesliga.
As a result, Alaba’s future in the left-back slot at Bayern remains uncertain, even though the German outfit has been quick to extend Davies’ contract. Chelsea, in that regard, could use this opportunity and offer a lucrative deal to lure him to Premier League next season.
The Blues haven’t had a reliable left-back this season, with both Marcos Alonso and Emerson Palmieri struggling with form and injuries. Alaba, therefore, could become the club’s number one left-back, with no real competition either. His experience at the highest level of football will be useful for an otherwise young Chelsea side.
But more importantly, the Bayern Munich star can be deployed in a central defensive role, meaning he can be considered as a potential backup for any of the Chelsea centre-backs. It will provide Lampard with additional options as far as his tactical choices in the defensive unit is concerned.
That being said, it is highly unlikely Bayern Munich will want to offload one of their longest-serving players. The Bavarians could offer him a chance to become their first-choice centre-back next season, in which case, it would serve as a massive blow for Chelsea.
