Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has played down speculation linking David Alaba with the exit door at Bayern Munich.
The versatile defender has less than a year left on his contract at Bayern Munich and has lost his place at left-back to Alphonso Davies.
Alaba has been playing in the centre of defence recently for Bayern and has been linked with a Premier League move due to the qualities he possesses in his natural left-back role.
Chelsea are one of the clubs to have been linked, with Blues fans hopeful of being able to land the 28-year-old on a cut-price deal due to his contract situation.
With Bayern still in the Champions League, the Austrian has refused to be drawn on his future recently, claiming his attentions were fully on competing in Europe.
Yet Bayern CEO Rummenigge has indicated that talks over a potential new contract are progressing well.
He told the media: "With Alaba, I am cautiously optimistic we will find a solution."
Rummenigge's optimism should come as a blow to Chelsea when compared to how the Bayern CEO has spoken about Thiago Alcantara's future at the German champions.
Thiago is in a similar contract situation to Alaba but is said to be keen to find a new challenge, with Rummenigge revealing that Bayern would sell him at a fair price.
Rummenigge's optimism over Alaba suggests the left-back is more open to signing a new deal than Thiago is.
The CEO's comments also echo former Bayern president Uli Hoeness, who said recently that a player who has spent his career at an entire career like Alaba has would be more flexible in negotiations.
"I can only say from my own experience that the last million is not that important," he told DAZN and Goal.
"He gets a secure job here, a lot of fun, home, a lot of love from the fans and acceptance, which he would have to work for at another club.
"There is no club that is as familiar, cosy and pleasant as FC Bayern.
"For him it would perhaps be a step forward financially, but in all other areas it would be a step backwards.
"And according to my feeling, at least the clubs he would like to go to have never knocked, fortunately. And that's why I hope that he will stay."
