In a recent interview (via The Daily Mail), Bayern Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has provided an update on Chelsea‘s pursuit of Bayern Munich defender David Alaba by revealing that the Bavarian club are likely to part ways with the Austrian international soon after he rejected the chance to pen a new contract. Rummenigge said,
‘Bayern did everything we could to try and reach an agreement.
‘We had a lot of conversations, but we wanted answers from him by the end of October.
‘This didn’t happen and I don’t know if we’ll return to the negotiations.
‘What I want to be clear about is that our offer showed exactly how much we value him, but he didn’t accept it’
Alaba’s current deal at the Allianz Arena expires at the end of this campaign with Nicolo Schira claiming earlier this month that the Blues have offered the Bayern centre-back a three-year contract. Rummenigge’s latest revelation will be quite encouraging for Frank Lampard’s side if they are planning to sign him on a cut-price fee in January or as a free agent next summer.
Alaba’s Brilliant Form At Munich This Season
The 28-year-old has experienced another solid season in Germany after putting in a series of dominant displays at the heart of Hans-Dieter Flick’s defence. Alaba has featured in 18 matches for the Bavarian outfit this term, registering one goal and one assist in the process across all competitions.
The Wien-born sensation has once again caught the eye with his performances in Europe where he has averaged 1.4 tackles, 1.2 interceptions, 2.6 clearances and 0.6 key passes per game in the group stages of the UEFA Champions League this season. He has even distributed possession immaculately out from defence as evidenced by his pass success rate of 87.4% in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
What Does The Austrian International Bring To The Table?
Alaba is a quick and agile centre-back who can get up and down the field in a flash which makes him quite effective when defending the opposition counterattacks. He has transformed himself into a reliable presence at the back due to his tenacity to earn possession back for his team.
The 73-time Austria international has got a great leap in him that allows him to win some important headers on the defensive end of the field. At 28, he is at the prime stage of his playing career and will be an asset for most top clubs in Europe.
Should The Blues Launch A Move For Alaba In January?
Recruiting Alaba in January could be a welcome addition to Lampard’s squad as he will add a lot of quality to Chelsea’s defensive department. Plus, the Bayern star could form a dominant defensive partnership with Thiago Silva at Stamford Bridge which would help the Blues challenge for some major trophies in the coming seasons. All in all, the West London club should consider orchestrating a move to bring the Austrian defensive ace to England when the transfer window commences at the start of January.
