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Bayern Munich minded to disappoint Manchester City and keep David Alaba

David Alaba of Bayern Munich - Getty
David Alaba of Bayern Munich - Getty

Manchester City’s chances of signing David Alaba have been dealt a blow with Bayern Munich insisting they will not sell the defender even though he is in the final year of his contract.

Telegraph Sport revealed City’s interest in Alaba in July with the Austrian international wanting to complete Bayern’s Champions League campaign – which ended with them winning the competition – before deciding his future.

City are now weighing up a move for Alaba or Ajax's Nicolas Tagliafico but any prospects of strengthening in the left-back position are likely to hinge on the club offloading Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Alaba is understood to be keen on the move and has indicated that he is unlikely to sign a contract extension. It means Bayern are risking the versatile player – who can play at left-back, centre-half or in midfield – at the end of the season on a ‘free transfer’. Alternatively Alaba, who Pep Guardiola would want primarily as a left-back, could sign a pre-contract agreement for a club outside of Germany from January.

Having sold Thiago Alcantara, who was also in the final year of his contract, to Liverpool during this transfer window Bayern are determined not to lose another of their senior players.

If he signs a new contract at Bayern Alaba wants a deal that reflects his status as one of the world’s best footballers. Bayern coach Hansi Flick has asked the club to strengthen the squad before the transfer window closes next week and would be loathe to lose Alaba especially with the season underway.

Alaba has been a mainstay at Bayern since he broke into the team in 2010 but his representatives are pushing hard for a more lucrative deal for the player given how highly he is valued in world football and how important his next contract will be given his age.

City took their summer spending to around £126million after formally announcing the signing of Portugal centre-half Ruben Dias, 23, from Benfica in a club record £65.2million deal.

Guardiola's hopes of bringing in a left-back, and finally addressing what has been a problem position for several seasons, is expected to hinge on City's ability to offload Zinchenko, who is the current back-up to Benjamin Mendy. Angelino is on loan at RB Leipzig. City could test Bayern's resolve over Alaba if they manage to find a buyer for Zinchenko.

Tagliafico, 28, who has won 25 caps for Argentina, is understood to be one of the other options under consideration.