Liverpool agree £25m with Bayern Munich for Thiago Alcantara

REVEALED: Liverpool will pay just £20MILLION upfront for Thiago as they agree bargain fee – with £5m in bonuses – for the Bayern Munich midfielder, who will sign a four-year deal and take the No 6 shirt

  • Liverpool have agreed a £25m fee with Bayern Munich for Thiago Alcantara
  • Jurgen Klopp has been chasing the Champions League winner all summer
  • Klopp is bolstering his squad as Liverpool attempt to retain the Premier League
  • Thiago is in the final year of his contract at Bayern and wants a new challenge 

Liverpool are closing in on a deal to land star midfielder Thiago Alcantara after agreeing a transfer fee in the region of £25million with Bayern Munich. 

The Spain international has been persistently linked with the Premier League champions since July, when he made it clear that he would not be signing another contract in Germany.

Michael Edwards, Liverpool’s Sporting Director, had been in discussions with his counterpart at Bayern, Hasan Salihamidzic, and they made a breakthrough, with Liverpool guaranteeing to pay a minimum of £20m over the next four years – the length of contract Thiago will sign. 

Liverpool have agreed a £25m fee with Bayern Munich for Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara

Liverpool have agreed a £25m fee with Bayern Munich for Spanish midfielder Thiago Alcantara

Jurgen Klopp has been chasing the Champions League winner and seems to have got his man

There is no indication when Thiago will undergo a medical on Merseyside, as he is currently in Munich, but personal terms have been agreed and the 29-year-old will wear the No 6 shirt, as he has done all through his career. 

Should Liverpool win the Premier League or Champions League again before 2024, they will have to pay Bayern another £5million while there are other bonuses should he win any individual honours during his time at Anfield.

Jurgen Klopp has been tight-lipped about Thiago whenever he has been asked in recent months, acknowledging simply that he is ‘an excellent player’, but it is now clear he wants to add the 29-year-old to his squad.

The move for Thiago is not, however, linked directly to the future of Gini Wijnaldum, who has also entered the final 12 months of his contract and has been persistently linked with Barcelona and a reunion with Ronald Koeman.

Wijnaldum had ‘positive’ discussions with Klopp after returning from international duty last week and while Liverpool would look to command a similar fee from Barcelona as Bayern want from Thiago, neither situation is linked.

Thiago starred for Bayern as they won the Champions League but he wants a fresh challenge

Thiago starred for Bayern as they won the Champions League but he wants a fresh challenge

Liverpool hope Thiago can bring a new dimension as they try to retain the Premier League

Liverpool hope Thiago can bring a new dimension as they try to retain the Premier League

The move for Thiago is not linked directly to the future of Barcelona target Gini Wijnaldum

The move for Thiago is not linked directly to the future of Barcelona target Gini Wijnaldum

Klopp holds Wijnaldum, who has been a constant presence in his midfield, in the highest regard but Thiago has different qualities – particularly with his passing – to Liverpool’s other midfielders and the manager believes he will add another dimension to their play.

A feature in recent weeks of questions to Klopp has revolved around whether he needs to add to new players, in light of their rivals strengthening, but this is an emphatic illustration that Liverpool are not prepared to settle for second best.

Thiago, who was brought to Bayern by Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola in 2013, has won seven Bundesliga titles in a row. 

He made 40 appearances across all competitions in 2019-20, scoring three goals and providing two assists.  

source: dailymail.co.uk