Liverpool are closing in on the signing of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich as they look to boost their midfield options.
According to a report published by SPORT, Liverpool are close to signing Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich as the midfielder looks for a new adventure.
Thiago joined Bayern in the summer of 2013 for a fee of €20 million-plus add-ons after his €90 million release clause reduced to €18 million because Barcelona could not fulfil the clause in relation to playing time. He ended up being Pep Guardiola’s first signing as the manager moved to Bayern after his one-year sabbatical.
The Spaniard has been the only constant in the midfielder for the Bavarians the 2013/14 season. He has played under 4 different managers in his time in Germany, but his best performance in the 2016/17 season when Carlo Ancelotti took charge of the sidelines. He contributed with six goals and five assists in 27 appearances in the league playing in multiple roles across midfield.
His tenure at Bayern, though, has been riddled with injury concerns, causing him to miss several games on the bounce every season. This campaign alone, Thiago has been absent from nine games due to injury. In the 20 games he has clocked, he has scored three goals, but set up none for his teammates. This is the second time Thiago has gone without assisting for an entire BuLi season; the first one being 2014/15, when he played only seven games.
Liverpool have seven midfielders on their payroll right now, but none of them add their creative threat from the centre of the park. They have relied on their forwards and wingbacks as a creative outlet since Jurgen Klopp’s arrival.
Moreover, Adam Lallana might be on his way out of the club, linked with a move to Leicester City. As for other options, James Milner is 34, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is constantly injured while Naby Keita has failed to live up to expectations. The addition of Thiago could do wonders for this midfield.
Klopp and co. will have to step up their pursuit of the midfielder, though, as he has just one year left on his contract, and could be available for nearly €35 million. Bayern might have to offload him for cheap this summer to avoid letting him walk away for free next year when he becomes a free agent. It will be interesting to see this transfer unfold in the coming months.
