Real Madrid manager Zinedine Zidane has refused to comment on speculation linking out-of-contract Bayern Munich defender David Alaba with a move to the Bernabeu.
The Austrian international, who joined Bayern back in 2009, is out-of-contract at the Allianz Arena at the end of this season and is not poised to put pen to paper on a new deal with the German giants.
His impending exit from the Champions League holders has put a plethora of big-name clubs across Europe on red alert, including Chelsea and Madrid, who are being heavily linked with a move for the defender, who can operate at either centre-back or left-back.
But although the rumour mill is now in full swing, particularly as the January transfer window opens tomorrow in England, Alaba's future is expected to continue to dominate the gossip columns.
However, although Alaba is reportedly on Madrid's radar, boss Zidane has refused to be drawn on reports linking the Austrian with a move to the Spanish capital.
Discussing the latest on the futures of Madrid duo Sergio Ramos, who is being linked with a switch to Tottenham Hotspur, and Luka Modric, Zidane, also addressing reports linking them with Alaba, said: “Sergio Ramos and Modric contracts? We want it to be solved as soon as possible. It's in everyone's interest.
"David Alaba joining as a free agent? I won’t talk about players who are not part of our team.”
Although Alaba's contract at the Allianz Arena does not reach its conclusion until the end of June, he is free to start discussing his next move with other clubs, ahead of potentially agreeing a pre-contract agreement.
And Alaba is highly likely to do just that, with Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Bayern's chief executive, last month, confirming that the defender's time with the Bundesliga outfit is all but over.
"Bayern did everything we could to try and reach an agreement," Rummenigge said, as quoted by the Daily Mail. "We had a lot of conversations, but we wanted answers from him by the end of October.
"This didn't happen and I don't know if we'll return to the negotiations.
"What I want to be clear about is that our offer showed exactly how much we value him, but he didn't accept it."
Though the battle to secure Alaba's signature is expected to be rife, Chelsea will see Alaba as a long-term replacement for Thiago Silva, who is now 36 years of age.
Though Alaba has spent the bulk of his career playing at left-back, he has operated at centre-back in recent months, adapting to the role well.
With that in mind, Lampard could see him as the perfect replacement for Silva, with him poised to be available on a free transfer.
