Liverpool and Chelsea suffer latest David Alaba setback as Barcelona chief outlines plans

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Chelsea and Liverpool look like they will now face outside competition for David Alaba in the form of Barcelona.

The Bayern Munich defender will become a free agent in the summer after announcing earlier this month he will leave the German giants.

“I have made the decision to leave #FCBayern at the end of this season and try something new,” he said.

“It obviously wasn’t an easy decision – I’ve been here for 13 years and the club means a lot to me.”

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Alaba, 28, is one of Europe’s finest versatile players and has played a multitude of roles including in midfield and on the wing. But the Austrian has primarily crafted his trade in defence, either at centre-back or full-back.

Having first broken into Bayern’s squad in the 2009/10 season, Alaba has made 419 appearances for the Bundesliga giants, winning nine league titles and two Champions Leagues.

Word of his summer departure soon spread catching the attention of Europe’s most elite clubs. And from the Premier League it was Chelsea and Liverpool who appeared most keen.

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Chelsea could do with finding themselves a Thiago Silva successor while Liverpool’s injury problems at the back have opened the door for a solid, first team operator to come in.

But instead of just fighting against each other it seems they now face serious competition from Barcelona.

According to Diario AS, new club president Joan Laporta is set to begin his rein by making a move for the Bayern Munich star.

It is claimed Laporta has already sat down with the defender’s agents and will meet with them again in the summer.

The new Barca chief was voted in at the weekend having previously served as president between 2003 to 2010.

And it seems Alaba isn’t the only target on Laporta’s mind with Bellerin also a reported target of his.

The Gunners right back, 25, is contracted to Arsenal until 2023 but has often been linked with a return to Barcelona where he spent much of his youth.

But Sergiño Dest’s recent emergence along with the versatile Junior Firpo may complicate things for Bellerin who would by no means be granted a regular starting spot.

Laporta of course oversaw one of the club’s most successful ever spells and clearly has his mind set on a few players already – which only spells bad news for Liverpool’s and Chelsea’s hopes of signing Alaba.

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