‘Alaba could play for any club in the world’ – Former Bayern boss Kovac talks up change for Austrian

David Alaba could “play anywhere in the world”, says former Bayern Munich boss Niko Kovac, with the Austrian seemingly set to weigh up his options at the end of the season.

With the 27-year-old’s current contract only tying him to the Bundesliga champions until 2021, it has been suggested that a change of scenery on the cards.

Alaba has admitted that he may be tempted to take on a challenge outside of Germany, telling The Times: “We’ll see [what happens in the future].

“I know the Premier League very well because I followed it a lot when I was younger. I supported Arsenal. Patrick Vieira was one of my favourite players.

“At the moment I don’t think too much about it, but I can imagine playing somewhere else.”

Arsenal have been linked with Alaba in the past, along with domestic rivals Manchester United.

Real Madrid are another long-standing suitor and Kovac, who worked with Alaba during a spell in charge of Bayern, believes a versatile performer could grace any squad in the world.

He told ServusTV: “David can play anywhere in the world. But he ultimately has to make that decision himself.

“I can only say from my own experience that if you go somewhere else, you can achieve another boost.”

It remains to be seen whether Alaba will be on the move in the near future, but Kovac is hoping that he will be.

The former Croatia international has been out of work since leaving Bayern in November 2019 and is eager to return to the dugout.

He said: “I assume that there will be something again in the summer, so I'm preparing for it.”

Kovac added when asked if another international post would appeal, having previously spent two years in charge of the Croatian national side: “National coaching is certainly a nice job, but daily work is a lot more fun.

“I am ready to go where I feel valued and where I feel that something can happen.”

Kovac was relieved of his duties at the Allianz Arena after overseeing a slow start to the 2019-20 campaign, but successor Hansi Flick has Bayern back at the Bundesliga summit and preparing for a Champions League last-16 showdown with Chelsea.