Liverpool could plot a part-exchange with Juventus for Manuel Locatelli this summer, with Thiago Alcantara heading the opposite way.
According to Calciomercatoweb, Liverpool are plotting a part-exchange move for Manuel Locatelli. The Reds are willing to send Thiago Alcantara the other way, plus the valuation difference in cash for the 25-year-old midfielder.
Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is gearing himself up for what looks like a massive summer at Anfield. The Reds have fallen quite dramatically off their perch this season. And if their form does not improve quickly, there is a good chance they will finish the season in mid-table.
Several things may be blamed for Liverpool’s demise. The inefficient pressing of a new-look Liverpool front three, along with Sadio Mane’s exit, has taken a heavy toll on them. The fatigue of a team that came close to a historic quadruple last season; Klopp’s seven-year itch, which has hampered several of his teams in the past; and injuries affecting the team’s performance.
The one thing that most agree on universally is the fact that Liverpool need a midfield rebuild. Indeed, Fabinho and Jordan Henderson have been shadows of their former selves this season. Moreover, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, and James Milner are all set to leave the club when their contracts expire at the end of June.
As such, Klopp is reportedly seeking at least two signings to strengthen his midfield options this summer. Recently, Liverpool decided to turn their attention away from No. 1 target Jude Bellingham as they cannot afford to sign him, as publicly admitted by Klopp in a recent press conference.
The club needs to identify alternative targets to pursue in the summer. And to that end, Calciomercatoweb reports that OGC Nice’s Khephren Thuram has emerged as a priority target for the Reds. However, with a potential battle brewing to secure his services, the Ligue 1 outfit will reportedly demand at least €44 million to sell the France international, making it a tricky transfer chase.
The Reds have also set their sights on Juventus’s Manuel Locatelli but are reluctant to meet the Bianconeri’s €30 million valuation. Instead, they are mulling over proposing an intriguing swap deal that would see Thiago Alcantara go the other way in the summer, as the 32-year-old has become less important for Klopp this season due to injury issues.
In fact, Thiago has struggled to stay fit since arriving at Anfield from Bayern Munich in 2020 and has been sidelined for the Reds’ last 10 games with a hip problem. With the veteran already missing 60 games for Liverpool through injury or illness, there is every chance that he could be moved on in the summer, one year ahead of his contract’s natural expiry.
Given their desperate need for reinforcements in the middle of the park, signing a player as dynamic as Locatelli could be just what they need. Ideally, the Reds would want a cost-effective straight swap with Juventus for the 25-year-old Italian international.
But while the Turin giants really like the veteran Spanish playmaker, they may feel there is a gap between the valuations of the players given their respective ages. The report concludes with a line stating the ‘idea of an exchange’ between Liverpool and Juventus ‘is at least something to reflect on’ and is not ruled out outright.