David Alaba Bayern Munich 2020-21Getty Images

'It's not an issue at the moment' - Flick refuses to discuss Alaba contract as Bayern prepare for Leipzig clash

Bayern Munich head coach Hansi Flick has said that a new contract for defender David Alaba "is not an issue at the moment" ahead of his side's top-of-the-table clash with RB Leipzig on Saturday.

Alaba's deal expires at the end of the current season and the defender has rejected multiple offers of an extension from the Bundesliga champions.

The saga has become personal for the Austria international, with his father saying last month that the defender is "so disappointed and upset because so many falsehoods are being aired in public."

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With Bayern having taken their latest offer off the table, Flick told a media conference on Friday: "That's not an issue at the moment. There's a game every third day, that's the focus at the moment."

Flick also spoke about winger Leroy Sane, a player he believes needs more time to establish himself with the Bundesliga champions.

Since joining Bayern from Manchester City for an initial €49 million (£45m/$55m) in July , Sane has scored three goals and provided three assists in seven Bundesliga games, three of which have been starts.

He has also created four big chances, with only Thomas Muller (six) and Serge Gnabry (five) creating more for Bayern.

The attacker missed almost the entire 2019-20 season with City after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and suffered a knee injury against Hoffenheim at the end of September.

Flick has largely been impressed with Sane's contribution but believes there is plenty more to come once he has settled at the club.

"You have to consider the background," Flick said.

"He had a serious injury and was injured again in the Hoffenheim game. I know from my own experience that you need some time.

"What I see in training is good. It's not that easy when you come to a new club; you have to integrate first. At the moment we can't train like we did in pre-season."

Leroy Sane Bayern Munich 2020-21Getty Images

Bayern are two points clear of Leipzig at the Bundesliga summit and will hope to improve on their recent record against Julian Nagelsmann's side when they visit the Allianz Arena on Saturday.

Bayern won their first three meetings with Leipzig but have triumphed only once in their last five matches. Indeed, since 2017-18, only Hertha Berlin (four times in seven games) have picked up points in as many games against Bayern as Leipzig (four times in six games).

Leipzig are also the only team to stop the Bavarian giants from scoring in their last 70 Bundesliga matches, holding them to 0-0 draws in May 2019 and February 2020.

And Flick is in no doubt his side are in for a tough game against Nagelsmann's forward-thinking outfit.

"Leipzig have developed tremendously," the Bayern boss said. "Even before I was at Hoffenheim, I knew that Julian was a top coach.

"Leipzig play forward very quickly and are very variable. The idea of their football appeals to me and I value Julian as a coach. That's why Leipzig are where they are."

Alphonso Davies returned to full training this week after six weeks out with ankle ligament damage, while Joshua Kimmich stepped up his own personal fitness programme following surgery on a right lateral meniscus injury.

Saturday's game will come too soon for them, but Flick holds out hope Davies could make an appearance in Wednesday's final Champions League Group A game against Lokomotiv Moscow.

"Alphonso has trained, but is not yet ready for tomorrow," Flick said. "Maybe he will be back on Wednesday.

"Otherwise, except for Coco Tolisso and Joshua Kimmich, everyone is on board. That is a good sign, especially in the current situation."

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