Manchester City blow in pursuit of Bayern Munich defender

Bayern Munich are preparing for the potential departure of David Alaba this summer but Manchester City have work to do to convince the versatile defender to join them, claims BILD.

Alaba has entered the final 12 months of his current Bayern deal and little progress has been made about a renewal.

Bayern accept time is running out in order to secure Alaba's long-term future and will reportedly accept offers in the region of €36m (£32.3m) this summer if they fail to strike a deal with the defender. 

Pep Guardiola wants to address City's shortcomings at centre-back and left-back this summer and knows Alaba can cover both positions. 

Guardiola wants to raid former club Bayern for the 28-year-old but may fall short in his pursuit as Alaba is not keen on a move to England.

Alaba has spent the last 12 years of his life in Germany and has been regularly linked with a move to Real Madrid and Barcelona in that time.

Chelsea had earmarked Alaba as a potential transfer target at the start of lockdown to resolve their own problems in defence but appear to have moved their interest on.

City at least know they have the best chance of any English side in convincing Alaba to join due to Guardiola's previous experience with the defender.

Alaba played the best football of his career during Guardiola's time at Bayern manager between 2013 and 2016.

The Bayern defender's best WhoScored rating in a single-league campaign coincided with Guardiola's first season at the club (7.55).

By comparision, Alaba garnered a WhoScored rating of just 6.99 in the 2019/20 Bundesliga campaign.