Liverpool Transfer Rumors: Reds Want Sought-After Defender; Barcelona To Drop Out

David Alaba is a wanted man as he enters the final six months of his contract with current employers Bayern Munich.

With his deal with Bayern nearing its expiration, the Austrian is free to sit down with top-flight clubs outside Germany and commit to joining them in the summer.

The 28-year-old has made it clear that he will not extend his deal with Bayern in order to pursue a new opportunity elsewhere. At least six top European clubs are said to be vying for his signature, with Liverpool being the latest entrants after holding talks with his agent Pini Zahavi.

According to Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Reds are keen to bring Alaba to the English Premier League in the summer. However, they face stiff competition in acquiring the versatile midfielder as Real Madrid is also in the chase.

Real Madrid is said to have offered the player a long-term contract in a bid to ward off other suitors. Romano reports that a four or five-year deal is already on the table, making Los Blancos the favorites to land the defender.

“Liverpool would also like to sign Alaba next summer and [is] pushing hard to make it happen. They too have made contact with the player’s representatives, but it has long been his dream to play for Real Madrid and they are in pole position,” Romano wrote in his column for the Guardian.

Clubs have to option to pay Alaba's fee for his release this January, but according to the Italian journalist, the Austrian is keen to honor his contract until the end of the season.

Meanwhile, Barcelona is reported to be interested in luring the defender to Camp Nou, but Spanish publication Marca reported that the Blaugrana side has thrown in the towel and will now shift their focus to other available reinforcements in the market.

The Catalans have touch-based with Zahavi about Alaba after he was made available to them. But the financial demands of the sought-after defender proved to be way out of reach for Barcelona.

Head coach Ronald Koeman is expected to completely turn the club's attention towards Manchester City central defender Eric Garcia, who has shown an inclination to join Barcelona.