Liverpool Enter The Race To Land This Bundesliga Defender: Should Klopp Get Him On Board? | OneFootball

In a recent print edition, Bild has claimed that Liverpool have entered the race to land Bayern Munich defender David Alaba but are one of six clubs in the running to acquire his services. It is believed that the Merseyside giants are the ‘latest to enter the poker game’ for the Austrian international but have ‘little chance’ of signing him as the player favours a move to Real Madrid (transcripted and translated by Sport Witness).

Alaba’s Lacklustre Season In The Bundesliga

The 28-year-old has failed to hit his best form this season and has been far from convincing with his performances at the heart of Hans-Dieter Flick’s defence. Alaba has participated in 20 matches for the Bavarian giants this term, registering one goal and one assist in multiple competitions.

The Wien-born centre-half has struggled to be consistent on the defensive end of the field as he is averaging 0.9 tackles, 1.4 interceptions and 1.4 clearances per game in the Bundesliga. However, he remains one of the best ball-playing defenders in the German top-flight after he completed 85.8% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).

Alaba has got less than six months remaining on his Bayern Munich contract which means that he can talk to other clubs and come to a pre-contract agreement with them this month. However, the Reds could find it difficult to lure him to Anfield as the player fancies a move to Madrid at the end of this campaign.

What Does The Austrian International Bring To The Table?

Alaba has decent pace in his locker and can make some darting sprints to clear the danger when needed. He showed last season that he has good defensive awareness and can pull off some important interceptions at the back.

The 73-time Austria international has also got a great leap in him which helps win some important aerial duels for his team. However, his form this season has been poor when compared to his incredible achievements in the previous campaign. Hence, there are some concerns over whether he can be a success story in the Premier League as he might struggle to cope with the physical nature and gruelling schedule of English football.

Should Liverpool Get Alaba On Board?

The fact that Alaba will be available for free at the end of the season makes him an attractive option for most top clubs in Europe, including the Reds. However, Jurgen Klopp would be better off opting for a much younger centre-back to fit the Liverpool owners, Fenway Sports Group’s model of signing young players and nurturing them into top talents with greater market value.

Plus, the player’s preference to join Real Madrid could make it difficult for the Merseysiders to land him next summer. However, Klopp would wise to consider a cut-price move for Alaba this month as he is in dire need of an emergency centre-half to cope with his current injury crisis in defence after the long-term injuries to Virgil Van Dijk and Joe Gomez.