Bayern Munich of Germany’s Nigerian-born left-back, David Olatokunbo Alaba is drawing talk about a possible summer transfer to either Barcelona and Real Madrid, as both Spanish La Liga giants have both reportedly expressed strong interested in signing the defender, megasportsarena.com reports.
Although Alaba, who was born in Philippines to a Nigerian father and Austrian mother, has been a target for Chelsea of England since last summer, the 27-year-old utility player is said to be sold on the possibility of moving to Spain, as he is considering his future at Bayern.
The international media is now abuzz with hints that Alaba could be on his way out of Munich this summer, amid links with Barca, Madrid and some other top European clubs, after he won his eighth German Bundesliga title with The Bavarian giants last season.
Despite an earlier dip in form, Bayern currently sit top of the league table, four points clear of their biggest rivals, Borussia Dortmund in Germany’s elite division, but Alaba reportedly wants to try his talent somewhere else, hence the suggestion that he could be on his way to Spain.
That would be in contrast with earlier reports about the interest coming his way from Chelsea, who initiated a move for the dark-skinned defender during the January transfer window and could revive their intent this summer.
The Blues remain confident they can tempt Alaba into a move by offering him a new challenge in the English Premier League, while the London club’s boss, Frank Lampard is keen to shore up the left side of his defence line, especially with the likely exit of Marcos Alonso.
However, Chelsea will have to redouble their efforts, as Sport BILD reports via BuliNews that Barca and Real could pose serious competition in the race for Alaba, who came through Bayern’s youth set-up and broke through to the first team after spending six months of the 2010/11 term on loan at TSG Hoffenheim.
The versatile player, who holds the record for the youngest ever player to be capped by Austria at just 17 years old, is believed to be valued at around £60m, but that figure could rise if a fierce bidding war were to break out between all the interested clubs.
Alaba, though, previously expressed his desire to play in Spain or England, but specified either Real Madrid and Barcelona as his preferable destinations, as he told BILD last year: “In Spain, it would be the two big clubs, I guess, Real or Barcelona. Also the big clubs in England.”
