Thursday, March 28, 2024

Chelsea targeting Bayern Munich star this month

According to the Sunday Mirror, Chelsea are targeting a January move for Bayern Munich star David Alaba. The left-back is one of the biggest names in German football and would reportedly set the Blues back £60m if they were to land him this month.

Alaba has proven himself to be one of most versatile players in football over the last few years at Bayern Munich, having been forced to play all over the pitch. Even this season he’s been mostly out of position, playing at centre-back while Munich have struggled with injuries.

Alaba currently has 18 months left on his current deal at Bayern, and didn’t rule out a move away from the Allianz, saying “I can imagine both staying here or taking a different route” when asked about his future recently.

When asked about the future of his player, Bayern interim boss Hansi Flick responded bluntly, telling media “Alaba is not for sale in the winter!” He then went on to talk about how important Alaba is to the team, as well as spoke about the role he will have in the team in the games to come.

“We are very well occupied with Alphonso Davies on the left,” Flick said. “Alaba is doing very well at centre-back at the moment. He can lead a team, he has showed that. These are the criteria that the leader of the defence has to fulfil.”

Chelsea target David Alaba
Chelsea target David Alaba

Chelsea set sights on Chilwell

The move, although a costly one, would be great for Chelsea if they could pull it off. This season, neither Marcos Alonso or Emerson Palmieri have shown the form necessary to make that left-wing-back role their own on a permanent basis. Given his aptitude for attacking and his ability to defend as well, Alaba could very well be the perfect player to lock down that particular role in the Chelsea side for the next few years to come.

However, Bayern aren’t the type to sell players that are a big part of their side – especially while they’re in the prime of their career. At 27-years-old, Alaba is very much entering the peak of his powers and, as a result, it seems very unlikely Bayern would be even willing to listen to offers – never mind agree to sell him. If Alaba wants to leave Bayern, the best way to do it will be to let his contract run down and leave on a free. Even then, I can see Alaba being in Munich for a few years to come yet.

Chelsea seem to really want to strengthen that particular part of their team and if I were them, I’d stay a little closer to home. Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell is another name that had been mentioned, they’d likely be able to get him for around the same price as Alaba, if not less – plus he’d bring knowledge of the English game and a few extra years at the team, given that he’s four years Alaba’s junior.

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