“Too small and too old” – Liverpool drop interest in David Alaba | OneFootball

Liverpool have reportedly decided not to pursue their interest in Bayern Munich defender David Alaba as they consider him to be “too small and too old”.

The 28-year-old is available for free this summer after his contract expires at the Allianz Arena, and a number of clubs, including Real Madrid, Liverpool, Paris Saint-Germain, and Chelsea have been credited with an interest in the Austrian.

However, according to the Independent, Liverpool have pulled out of the race as Alaba does not check all the boxes at Anfield. The report claims that the Reds did hold talks with the player’s representatives last year in order to gauge his personal demands and valuation.

But Jurgen Klopp’s side have now decided that Alaba, who turns 29 in June, does not fit the profile of a long-term replacement. They also considered him too small and not strong enough in the air to fit their central defensive requirements.

Liverpool have been hit with a number of injuries in the defensive area, with Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez all but ruled out for the season.

Joel Matip has been filling in at center-back, but he is also currently sidelined. Klopp is a huge fan of Alaba, but the age factor is stumbling block for the defending Premier League champions.

Alaba’s most-likely destination is the Santiago Bernabeu, with Zinedine Zidane’s side willing to cede to his massive salary demands, which amount to around £12million-a-year after tax.