Jordan Henderson, Gigi Wijnaldum and Fabinho have a monopoly over the Liverpool midfield, but who makes way if they complete the signing of Thiago Alcantara?
The 29-year-old Spaniard is being heavily linked with a move from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich during this transfer window - with any deal likely to be concluded after the Bavarian's Champions League campaign.
Gareth Roberts from The Anfield Wrap spoke on OTB AM about what Thiago would add to the Premier League champions' midfield, and speculated as to who might be the man to make way in the team.
"It's interesting with him. You look at who he's played for and where he's playing right now. You look at his quality and you look at what he's able to do, but then you also look at his injury record and it's sort of balancing up the two.
"With Klopp's signings traditionally, Robertson's one, Fabinho's one, where they have a settling in period because they almost aren't used to the pace of the training, the pace of the games, how much they're expected to press.
"Obviously Bayern aren't shy of pressing themselves, and I do kind of think is he one that's coming straight out of the box and ready to go? I'd like to think so.
"Where he fits in straight away is really interesting though - who do you drop? I think a lot of Liverpool fans, despite everything he's done and won now, would say Henderson.
"That just feels incredibly harsh on Henderson. And I know sometimes football is harsh and managers are ruthless, but I don't know. I kind of feel he'll [Thiago] be getting one or two starts, kicking around on the bench at first and then feeling his way in.
Semifinal bound! 🕺🏼#KeepWorking pic.twitter.com/6Luy8I8G6K
— Thiago Alcantara (@Thiago6) August 14, 2020
"He'll have to prove his worth I guess, you can't displace the boys they've got now. I think Klopp has shown that is his go-to midfield, all the big games he turns to those lads.
"I would expect that to be the same for the foreseeable really."
Former Norwegian international striker Jan Aage Fjortoft has his finger firmly on the transfer market pulse, and he told OTB AM last week that he thinks Thiago will almost certainly be at Anfield next season.
"Thiago will leave Bayern Munich, I am 100 per cent sure about that. Liverpool wants this player, Klopp, of course, knows him and this is a much more sensible kind of transfer fee.
"It's most likely that Thiago will leave Bayern Munich, I see they like Manchester United are throwing in their stories about other clubs [being interested], other alternatives and things like that but it's most likely that he will go to Liverpool Football Club."
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