Thiago Alcantara is set to join Liverpool in a deal rumoured to be in the region of €30 million, as first reported by The Athletic.
The Spanish midfielder is set to leave Bayern Munich after seven successful years that saw him lift seven Bundesliga titles, as well as the DFB Pokal on four occasions.
Alcantara also added the Champions League to his personal trophy cabinet for the second time, starring in Bayern's 1-0 victory over Paris St Germain in August.
Thiago ALCANTARA (FC Bayern Munich) is in the mood after the award ceremony, Frank Hoermann / SVEN SIMON / Pool / via / firosportphotoHis imminent arrival on Merseyside will immediately bolster the Premier League champions quality in the midfield area and is a statement of their intent to build on their success under Jurgen Klopp, according to Simon Hughes of The Athletic.
"It's the biggest signing that Liverpool have made in a longtime," Hughes told Eoin Sheahan of Off The Ball.
"It's a real statement of intent from Liverpool that they're going for the title again."
"It will be interesting to see how he adjusts to a shift in the system because Liverpool play slightly differently to Bayern Munich, a 4-3-3 compared to a 4-2-3-1 but Thiago's played that way for Barcelona before. I don't think he is going to struggle to adapt."
The pace of the move accelerated in recent days as Bayern made it clear that they would like to see it go over the line before their opening game of the new Bundesliga season.
The German champions host Schalke on Friday night as they attempt to win their ninth league title in a row.
firo Soccer: Final Champions League: 23.08.2020 FC Bayern Munich, Munich, Muenchen - Paris Saint Germain 1: 0. Thiago ALCANTARA (FC Bayern Munich) with Smartphome after award ceremony. Frank Hoermann / SVEN SIMON / Pool / via / firosportphoto #NO use of any use photographs as image sequences and / or quasi-video # #Editorial Use ONLY # #National and International News Agencies OUT # | usage worldwideThat forced Liverpool to act. The club had been hesitant in recent weeks while Thiago was still on holidays.
"Bayern Munich made it clear to Liverpool that they wanted to get a deal done quickly because their Bundesliga season starts tomorrow night at home to Schalke. That prompted Liverpool to get things moving quicker," Hughes continued.
"Over the last 48 hours things have progressed and then this morning they've agreed a deal between €27 million- €30 million."
Manchester United had been rumoured to be interested in hijacking the deal in recent weeks, however, Hughes feels that United were not seriously in the race considering their recent capture of Donny Van de Beek's signature.
They also have plenty of cover in the middle of the park with the likes of Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba on the books. Liverpool were largely unopposed in that sense from making the deal for Thiago happen.
Some have questioned whether Thiago's arrival will have an impact on Georginio Wijnaldum's future at the club.
Barcelona are reported to be interested in signing the Dutchman from Anfield, however, Hughes believes that this news does not necessarily spell the end for Wijnaldum at the club.
"Liverpool, not to The Athletic, but to other media organisations have made it clear he hasn't been brought in as a replacement for Wijnaldum," he said.
It is uncertain who will lose their place at Thiago's expense in Liverpool's energetic midfield, however, Klopp will certainly have a plethora of options at his dispense in the coming weeks as he mounts another assault on both the domestic and European fronts.
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