Manchester City and Real Madrid have apparently received a boost in their efforts to sign Bayern Munich left-back Alphonso Davies, whose contract talks with the German champions have hit a brick wall.
The 23-year-old has not been awarded an extension at the Allianz Arena for over three years, and his current terms are due to expire at the end of the 2024-25 season.
Davies has been an integral cog in Thomas Tuchel's machine since the ex-Chelsea coach took the reins from Julian Nagelsmann, and the Bayern boss is keen to see the Canada international stick around.
However, the Bavarian giants will be at risk of losing Davies for nothing in 2025 if discussions do not bear fruit, and they could therefore be pressured into a sale either in January or next year.
According to TEAMtalk, negotiations over a new deal are ongoing between Davies's entourage and Bayern, and the defender is open to staying, but the two parties are not any closer to reaching an agreement.
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The report claims that Davies's camp have been left dissatisfied with the offers that Bayern have put on the table, as he wants to be one of the highest-paid players at the club, and the 23-year-old will explore exit routes if a breakthrough is not made.
Real Madrid and Man City are both said to have been put on red alert by Davies's contract impasse, and Los Blancos in particular are making a play to prise the Canadian away from Bavaria.
Carlo Ancelotti's side waved goodbye to legendary left-back Marcelo in the summer of 2022, and Ferland Mendy - who was signed with a view to being the Brazilian's long-term successor - has struggled for fitness and consistency at the Bernabeu.
The capital giants reunited with former Castilla product Fran Garcia over the summer, but the 24-year-old is already being linked with an exit amid interest from German giants Borussia Dortmund.
Real are said to have already touched base with Davies's agents to gauge the defender's interest in a summer switch to La Liga, and Los Blancos are "first in line" to make an approach in 2024.
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However, Man City have also been running the rule over the former Vancouver starlet, and Bayern will welcome offers for Davies in the coming months if no agreement can be reached over a new deal.
The German giants paid just €14m (£12m) to bring Davies to the Bundesliga from Vancouver in 2019, but they would still demand a significant fee to let the defender depart ahead of next season.
Davies has registered eight goals and 28 assists in 174 matches for Bayern during his time in Germany, winning five successive Bundesliga titles in addition to two DFB-Pokals, three German Super Cups, the Champions League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup.
The four-time Canadian Footballer of the Year winner has set up three goals in 21 outings for Bayern in the ongoing campaign, but he was taken off at half time in last weekend's humiliating 5-1 defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Ben Knapton
