According to Football Correspondent Jacque Talbot, a source has informed him that Barcelona are considering a move for Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara during the upcoming summer transfer window.
The Spanish international, who made the switch from Bayern Munich to Anfield in 2020, is contracted with the Reds until the conclusion of the 2024 season. Thiago is no stranger to Barcelona, having risen through the club’s ranks after joining at the age of 14, and made over 100 appearances for the Catalan giants between 2008 and 2011.
Thiago was absent from Liverpool’s 4-3 victory against Spurs on Sunday, and with Jürgen Klopp reportedly looking to rebuild his midfield, it would certainly surprise a number of Liverpool supporters if the talented playmaker were to return to Spain this summer. The Spaniard did make a surprise appearance from the bench, but only as a translator for Darwin Nunez, much to Klopp’s surprise.
As part of the restructuring of Liverpool’s midfield, it is possible that Klopp is seeking more resilient players, given Thiago’s less-than-ideal injury record. The midfielder has suffered from a variety of injuries, ranging from hip flexor issues to calf and knee problems, resulting in approximately 50 missed matches during his three seasons at Anfield, as per Transfermarkt.
Furthermore, Thiago is one of Liverpool’s top earners, with a rumoured weekly wage of around £200,000. This could potentially be a factor in the club’s openness to Barcelona’s alleged interest in the player. Regardless of the outcome, Thiago’s potential departure would add to the growing list of challenges facing Klopp and Liverpool’s yet-to-be-appointed Sporting Director.
In addition to Thiago, it seems certain that James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and Arthur Melo will leave Anfield this summer. This would further compound the task of rebuilding the midfield, as well as necessitate the recruitment of suitable replacements in order to maintain the team’s competitiveness in both domestic and hopefully European competitions.
