Chelsea get major boost in Alaba transfer chase after Upamecano miss

Chelsea have been offered fresh hope in their pursuit of David Alaba.

The Bayern Munich star is available on a free transfer this summer and Chelsea are among a host of Europe’s leading sides targeting him.

Barcelona are considered favourites to land the Austrian, with reports in Spain claiming a verbal agreement had been reached.

But his agent Pini Zahavi issued a terse response to those claims, telling Goal: “That’s not true.”

Chelsea want to sign a top-class centre-back this summer, even after Thomas Tuchel’s transformation of their defence.

The German has overseen a run of nine clean sheets in 11 games since his appointment in January.

Thiago Silva could stay on for another year if Chelsea take up an option in his contract, and Andreas Christensen is set to be offered a new deal following his outstanding performances in recent weeks.

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But the club’s scouts have long been looking at options to bring in this summer, with Dayot Upamecano high on their list before the RB Leipzig defender agreed a move to Bayern at the end of the season.

Interest in Alaba will be heavily-dependent on the 28-year-old’s personal demands.