Bayern Munich star David Alaba has reiterated that he sees his future in midfield, and not at left-back or centre-back, but is willing to fill in for Jerome Boateng if required.
Alaba, who has just recovered from an ankle injury, made his return to action at left-back in Friday's 2-1 win over Hamburg.
The Austria international has been used in a variety of positions during Pep Guardiola's reign, and the Bayern boss said in October: "David Alaba is our god. He has played in nearly all 10 positions."
He has again stressed that midfield is his preferred position in an interview with Munich's Abendzeitung, though, even if he acknowledged that he can "play several positions" and has "especially shown that as a left-back."
He said: "It's every player's goal to become one of the best. I see my future in midfield -- that's no secret."
However, Bayern centre-back Boateng has sustained a "severe groin injury" that could rule the Germany international out for most of the remainder of the season, and Alaba, along with Javi Martinez, Holger Badstuber, Xabi Alonso and Medhi Benatia, is a candidate to replace him.
"I think that I have shown I can play there," Alaba said. "It's not exactly my favourite position -- I feel better at left-back or in midfield -- but I will help the team if the coach plays me there."
In December, only days before the long-awaited announcement that Guardiola would be leaving at the end of the season, Bayern tied Boateng, Javi Martinez, Thomas Muller and Alonso down to new contracts.
Alaba has yet to commit to a new contract with Bayern, but said he considers Munich to be "his home away from home."
He added: "My contract expires in 2018. I was injured for quite a long time, and only focused on my comeback, and didn't waste thoughts on other things."
When asked whether he could consider staying at Bayern for the rest of his career, Alaba -- who has been linked with Real Madrid in the past -- said he prefers to set himself "short-term goals."
One of the biggest fears in German football in recent months has been that the Premier League will continue to buy the Bundesliga's biggest stars with money generated from the new multi-billion TV contract.
In a kicker poll among all Bundesliga players, 82 percent said that they would either move to Premier League or at least consider it if they were offered a significantly better salary, and Alaba said he could understand that players might leave for England.
"The league is one of the best in the world -- but you can also say that about Bundesliga," he said.