Transfer Centre

How Liverpool could line up with Thiago Alcantara

By Barney Corkhill, EditorPublished: 29 August 2020 2:55 PM

Amid speculation linking Thiago Alcantara with a summer move to Liverpool, Sports Mole looks at how the Premier League champions could line up with the midfielder.

Premier League champions Liverpool continue to be linked with a summer bid for Thiago Alcantara, who has signalled his intention to leave European champions Bayern Munich during the current window.

Jurgen Klopp is understood to have identified the 29-year-old as his top transfer target, although the two clubs remain at odds over a fee for the midfielder, who has just one year remaining on his contract in Munich.

Liverpool have been relatively quiet in recent transfer windows and have only signed left-back Kostas Tsimikas so far this summer, but a deal for Thiago would be their highest profile signing since bringing Alisson Becker to the club.

Bayern have reportedly given Liverpool a deadline by which to make their move, though, with talks progressing at a slow rate so far.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how the Merseysiders could line up with the Spain international in their ranks.

Liverpool have a great deal of competition for places in midfield already, but arguably none of Klopp's current options possess the same quality as Thiago.

The pass-master would therefore likely be a regular starter for the Reds, which could mean that Georginio Wijnaldum's place in the team comes under greater threat.

Jordan Henderson is the captain and was Liverpool's player of the season last term so his place looks secure, whereas Fabinho has established himself as one of the best defensive midfielders in world football.

Thiago is more than capable of performing his role from that deeper position and could replace Fabinho in the XI, but that would also require a slight change in Liverpool's style which Klopp may be keen to avoid following such a successful season.

Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Curtis Jones provide yet more options in the middle of the park too, making that area of the pitch by far Liverpool's most competitive in terms of starting opportunities.

Elsewhere, Klopp's preferred choices look settled - a front three of Mohamed Salah, Roberto Firmino and Sadio Mane which is highly unlikely to be disrupted after Liverpool passed on the chance to sign Timo Werner and a back five of Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joe Gomez, Virgil van Dijk, Andrew Robertson and Alisson.