Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara is playing his final season at Anfield.
Thiago is still yet to feature in 2023/24, having had surgery on a persistent hip injury over the summer.
There had been hope that the 32-year-old would return after this month’s international break, but there’s been no sign of that so far.
And according to Paul Merson, there’s now no hope of Thiago extending his contract with the Reds. Writing in his weekend predictions for Sportskeeda, the pundit weighed in on the Spaniard’s situation.
“Thiago Alcantara has been incredibly unlucky with injuries, but I’d be shocked if he stayed at Liverpool beyond this season,” Merson claimed.
“The Reds are unlikely to offload him in January because he’s still a top player when he’s fit, but at the end of the season, I can see him moving on as a free agent.”
Had Thiago been able to get himself fit and ready for this season, there might be a chance he’d stay on at Liverpool.
As Merson points out, the former Barcelona midfielder is still a top player. Even with Liverpool’s new-look midfield, Thiago is still arguably the pick of the bunch on paper.
You can easily see how the Reds No.6 would have looked reinvigorated alongside Alexis Mac Allister, Dominik Szoboszlai and Ryan Gravenberch.
But unfortunately that hasn’t happened, not yet anyway.
Still, there’s certainly an argument to keep the £20m man around. With the average age of Liverpool’s group now markedly younger, it pays to keep the likes of Thiago.
It must also be remembered that it is still early in the season and there’s plenty of time for things to change. If Thiago can get back before Christmas and stay fit thereafter, perhaps he might still stay a bit longer.
Even if that does happen though, it does now feel like the writing is on the wall.
Liverpool’s midfield may still be better with him in it, but in his absence the Reds have had to move on without him. A natural parting of the ways is likely upon us. Let’s just hope we get to see a little more Thiago magic before he does go.
