Chelsea are set to open talks with the agent of of Bayern Munich defender David Alaba with a view to signing him on a free transfer.
The club invested heavily in the team over the summer with the likes of Edouard Mendy, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz all arriving at a cost in excess of £200m.
While that quintet have all had an impressive start to the campaign for Lampard’s new-look side, the impact of Thiago Silva has been credited with helping to boost Chelsea’s defensive improvement.
He signed on a Bosman from PSG during the close season and Lampard is now looking at Alaba, who now appears destined to leave Bayern Munich after spending the last 10 years with the club.
According to Bild reporter Christian Falk, Alaba’s representative, Pini Zahavi, is set to begin talks with the blues in January, but they are likely to face competition from PSG.
Manchester City and Liverpool have also been linked with a transfer move for Alaba who is comfortable playing at left-back or in the centre of defence.
Bayern manager Hansi Flick was powerless to prevent Thiago Alcantara departing for Liverpool in the summer and, while speaking last month, he was uncertain over the possibility of Alaba remaining beyond the end of the current campaign.
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He said: ‘I really hope that he signs a new deal with Bayern because I think he knows what the current situation is in Munich.
‘We have a lot of fun, it is a good atmosphere in the team and we play successful football. It is a club that belongs among the best in the world.
‘He will think about it, I am sure, but we will have to respect any decision. I hope he will remain with us but ultimately it is his decision.’
