Real Madrid seemed to have been set for a quiet end of the transfer window, but the week is already busier than expected. After a move for Dani Ceballos had agreed and collapsed, Los Blancos has now received an approach for David Alaba.
Sources have exclusively revealed España that Fiorentina has made an approach for the Austrian defender. The 33-year-old is one of the highest earners in Real Madrid, with a salary of € 10.8 million a year, and Los Blancos is open for a movement for a player who has deposed the pecking order in the club due to a series of injury problems in the past two seasons.
There has been interest from the Middle East in the veteran defender, with Al-Hilal, Al-STIHAD and Al-Ahlil in Saudi Arabia. However, none of these parties has an approach for Alaba. He would like to get back to the field and regularly get football after almost 18 months since his serious knee injury in which he has only appeared 599 minutes, with the World Cup on the horizon next summer.
With Real Madrid who no longer trusts Alaba this season – they have Dean Huijsen, Raul Asencio, Antonio Rudiger and Eder Militao in central defense – they are willing to let him go a free transfer to the Serie A side. That would of course enable them to throw away part of his big contract, which is now in the last year. La Viola puts together a two -year contract offer, but if they can satisfy Alaba, the deal can be packed quickly. Previously, his entourage claimed that Alaba will remain in the Bernabeu.
Fiorentina is also strongly connected to Viktor Lindelof from Manchester United, and it is not yet clear whether that deal would be linked to a movement for Alaba. However, it depends on the expected output of Pietro Comuzzo, which has a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabia itself. As such, Fiorentina wants an experienced figure to lead their backline.