In an exclusive interview with Football FanCast, former footballer and current pundit Carlton Palmer has been discussing reported Liverpool transfer target David Alaba.

The Reds have been heavily linked with a move for the Austrian international, who looks set to leave Bayern Munich in the summer when his contract expires.

Although Real Madrid are seemingly favourites to sign the 28-year-old defender, recent reports have suggested that Jurgen Klopp's side are still considering a swoop for the versatile defender and given his performances in recent seasons for Bayern, he would surely prove to be an excellent addition to the Liverpool side.

Liverpool's lack of squad depth in defence has been exposed in recent weeks in the absence of Virgil van Dijk and Joe Gomez, and the signing of someone such as Alaba, who has featured at centre-back, left-back and defensive-midfield in his career, would go a long way towards preventing Klopp from having to use youngsters such as Rhys Williams and Nathaniel Phillips in the Premier League again in the future.

Here's what Palmer had to say about Alaba when speaking exclusively to FFC:

"The player I would take, all day long, is the boy from Bayern Munich, Alaba. He's perfect, he's 28-years-old, he's a proven international player, he's out of contact. He's not one you're taking just because you're in the transfer window and you need to sign someone.

"You're taking him for the long-term. You're not just taking him as a centre-back because he can play anywhere across the back four. I think it's happy days, you get him out of there for £13/14 million. And if you get him out of there for £13/14 million in today's market for a player like that, who wasn't in the last year of his contract, he'd be worth £35/40 million. I think they'll try and get it done this window."

Palmer clearly feels that, whilst he's out of contract in the summer, Alaba should be brought in for a cut-price fee now, as he could help ease Klopp's defensive issues with the Reds.

Certainly, £13/14 million would be a small price to pay if it helps Liverpool retain the title this season, rather than slipping out of the Champions League places, as recent performances suggest this is a real possibility unless changes are made.

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