In a recent report, ESPN has claimed that Manchester City are among several clubs in the running for Bayern Munich defender David Alaba. It is understood that the Mancunian outfit could face competition from Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United, Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid, but all of them are trailing Real Madrid in the race to land the Austria international at the end of this campaign (via ESPN).
Alaba’s Excellent Campaign At The Allianz Arena
It has been another successful campaign for Alaba as he has put in a series of commanding displays to help his team maintain their stranglehold in the Bundesliga. The Bavarian giants are currently sitting at the top of the league table, five points above second-placed Red Bull Leipzig.
The 28-year-old has made 29 appearances for Hans-Dieter Flick’s side this term, netting two goals and providing two assists across all fronts. Alaba has 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 UEFA Champions League group stages. He has even been accurate when distributing possession out from defence after completing 87.4% of his attempted passes in European football (stats via whoscored).
What Will The Austrian Defensive Ace Add To Pep Guardiola’s Side?
Alaba is quick and agile enough to cover his tracks by making fast dashes to catch up with the opposition when they trying to threaten on the counter. He boasts good defensive awareness that helps him to earn possession back for his team and is not shy of clearing the danger by putting his foot through the ball when required.
The Wien-born sensation is one of the best ball-playing centre-halves in European football as he has got a wide range of passes in his locker and is always willing to join in on the attack when he is afforded time and space by the opposition.
Is Alaba The Right Choice For Man City?
A centre-back of Alaba’s skillset will be an excellent choice for Man City, especially because he will be available on a free transfer at the end of this season. At 28, the 76-time Austria international has got plenty of football left in him to perform at a high level, so he could potentially end Man City’s wait for their first Champions League trophy in the coming seasons.
Furthermore, Alaba has what it takes to form a dominant defensive partnership with Ruben Dias and John Stones at the Etihad Stadium. He will undeniably be an upgrade over Nathan Ake and Eric Garcia, who is set to leave the club next summer. With all things considered, Pep Guardiola should contemplate about orchestrating a move to bring Alaba to the north-west of England during the summer transfer period.
