Klopp comments on Thiago Alcantara transfer saga

Jurgen Klopp could not avoid being drawn on the rumors suggesting Liverpool are looking to snatch Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich.

The long-running transfer saga involving Thiago swapping Bayern for Liverpool has been hitting the headlines this summer.

The 29-year-old playmaker is in the final year of his contract in Bavaria. He has so far been reluctant to commit his long-term future to the reigning Champions League holders.

Having rebuffed all of Bayern’s previous attempts to tie him down to a new deal, Alcantara has sent a clear message to Liverpool about his preference.

Despite getting Thiago’s consent to make a deal happen, they have yet to understand the margins for negotiating his move from Bayern.

The Reds have restrained from making any big-money moves this summer after the coronavirus lockdown put the squeeze on their finances.

🗣 — Thiago Alcántara: "Midfielders have to keep looking at Busquets to improve." pic.twitter.com/jmC2rn4C4t
— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) September 5, 2020

Adam Lallana left Anfield after running down his contract, while Gini Wijnaldum could soon join fellow Dutchman Ronald Koeman at Barcelona.

The 29-year-old’s departure would leave Klopp with a sizeable midfield gap to fill. And, the German may opt to step up his pursuit of Thiago only then.

For the moment, Klopp has decided to keep things mysterious.

“If I could invent a word to end speculations, I’d be really rich. Did I mention that Thiago is a really good player? It’s nice that we are linked with him, but pretty much that’s all,” he said, as relayed by the Express Sport.

“Good for you I cannot end the speculation.”

Bayern are sticking to their £27million valuation of Thiago. It’s been the player’s price tag that has been throwing a spanner in the works on his proposed move to the Premier League.

Liverpool remain confident that they’ll be able to bring down the price as time goes by.

But, newly-crowned Premier League champions must be aware of the persistent interest from Manchester United, Arsenal, and Paris Saint-Germain in their top target.