The sight of Thiago Alcântara among this week’s pictures of Liverpool in training has helped create plenty of excitement among Liverpool fans. At last, the Spaniard could be about to return for real this time.
He hasn’t played a single minute of competitive action this season but has been one of Liverpool’s standouts when fit. His return is only positive amid hopes of winning the quadruple.
His contract situation isn’t so positive, though. Less than six months remain on his deal, which means teams from outside of the Premier League can already begin talks with him over signing him on a free transfer.
Those offers will likely come in after he makes his first match appearance, though he could have a new Liverpool lifeline with Xabi Alonso the strongest-linked candidate to take over at Anfield.
Alonso played a similar way to Thiago as a player when he would also dictate games from midfield. And it’s the sort of player that would thrive under Alonso, who would undoubtedly be hoping to work with him if he gets the job.
It would even be fair to suggest that Thiago is a better fit for Alonso than he is for Jürgen Klopp. Some questioned his arrival when he joined from Bayern Munich, given Liverpool’s high intensity and pressing. But like with most problems, Klopp found a solution to make it work — coming two games away from winning the quadruple.
Klopp spoke about the boost Thiago will provide to the squad before the match against Chelsea, with the Spaniard strengthening Liverpool’s midfield deck further. For any potential manager coming in, they should much rather have Thiago in the side than away from the club.
Throughout a season, his style is vital for many games — particularly when Liverpool is having a lot more of the ball against weaker opposition. But also as seen in his standout display at Anfield against Manchester United, Thiago can dominate when the Reds are in control.
He is a master of transitioning the ball forwards, and that makes him vital in particular for one of the roles in Xabi Alonso’s system. The former Liverpool star requires his defenders to be patient before threading the ball into the midfield, who then look to find the likes of Florian Wirtz — who drops into space to receive the ball in an advanced area.
There will be no concerns over whether Thiago fits into the tactical structure of the next Liverpool manager, with FSG likely to stay away from defensive-minded coaches. The only issue is his current salary.
He earns $252,000 per week (£200,000/€233,000) as per SpotRac, and with the impending contract decisions on Virgil van Dijk, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Mohamed Salah, Liverpool is almost certainly to want Thiago to be willing to accept a reduction. after his recent injury problems.
That gives him some bargaining power if he is looking to maintain his current salary, which clubs in the Saudi Pro League won’t have difficulty offering him, especially when they are planning to increase the number of foreign players available to be registered. But should Liverpool be quick in its decision to make a move for Bayer Leverkusen’s Xabi Alonso, Thiago’s future should be resolved sooner rather than later.
