Oliver Kahn is confident about Bayern Munich keeping David Alaba.
The whole Bayern Munich squad is currently gearing up for the Champions League final against Paris-Saint Germain on Sunday. After the final, Die Roten will start putting squad building plans into effect for next season.
Along with new arrivals, the German champions will also start securing the future of David Alaba. The Austrian defender has entered the final 12 months of his current deal as the two parties have been in talks before the lockdown.
Alaba has been reportedly firm on his wage demands as he appointed Pini Zahavi as his new agent earlier this year. However, the reports in Germany last week suggested that Die Roten received a big boost in their efforts to secure Alaba’s future after holding talks with Zahavi in Lisbon.
Speaking to a press conference (via Goal) in Portugal on Saturday, Oliver Kahn insisted that he is optimistic about making a breakthrough with Alaba regarding a new deal. Kahn is likely to be part of discussions since he became part of the board at the start of 2020.
"“We are currently in frequent talks with David Alaba and his advisors. Of course, I can’t talk about the content, but I think we’re getting closer. The atmosphere during the last conversation was very pleasant.”“We’re doing everything we can to keep David. At the moment I’m optimistic that we can keep David.”"
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Alaba’s contract situation has been reportedly keenly followed by various top clubs in Europe. The Austrian defender has been an important player for Die Roten this season. Hansi Flick has deployed Alaba in the heart of the defense due to injuries to other central defenders. He has seamlessly adapted to this role due to his astute positioning and expansive passing range.
Die Roten is eager to keep Alaba since he has few years left in his prime. Moreover, he came through the youth academy of the club. The Austrian has been a top full-back for numerous years. His future looks to be in central defense due to the emergence of Alphonso Davies. Moreover, Alaba is also a leader in the dressing room, so his value off the pitch is huge.
Alaba was outstanding against Lyon on Wednesday. The Austrian defender made several interceptions and blocks when the French club were dominating the game. His habit of turning up in big games is also valuable for Die Roten.
Along with Alaba, Jerome Boateng, Thiago Alcantara, and Javi Martinez also have only one year left on their contracts. The Spanish midfielders are expected to depart this summer, while Boateng has not ruled out seeing out his contract after enjoying a good amount of playing time under Flick.