Liverpool’s reported agreement with Bayern Munich regarding the signing of Thiago Alcantara has ensured that the Reds now possess two of the previously suggested best players in the Bundesliga, according to Jurgen Klopp.
The Spanish international is expected to join the Reds for an initial fee of £20 million, plus a further £5 million in add-ons linked to bonuses, The Times reports.
Thiago’s expected arrival makes it a truly remarkable summer for Liverpool and ensures Klopp now possesses two of the players he recently deemed as the best in the German top-flight.
Some years later, after watching the Bundesliga from afar on Merseyside, the German boss name-checked the imminent Reds No.6 when discussing his team’s decision to bring Naby Keita to the club from RB Leipzig in 2018.
“[Keita] is the best player in the league. I’d have preferred him this season!” said Klopp. “Last year together with Thiago Alcantara they were the best in the league.”
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Liverpool’s capture of Thiago represents the club’s highest-profile addition since Alisson Becker two years ago.
It signifies a statement of intent from the Premier League champions, who prior to the agreed deal for Thiago, had previously spent just £23 million on signings over the previous four transfer windows.
Too many players that were signed such as Kostas Tsimikas, Takumi Minamino and Adrian represented shrewd additions that would improve the depth of Klopp’s squad but none were considered to oppose an immediate threat to break into the manager’s starting XI.
In the form of Thiago, Liverpool have signed a superstar who is among the best in the world in his particular position. He should be able to give Klopp’s team that added spark to aid the Reds in their quest to retain their Premier League crown.
Even at 29, Liverpool signing Thiago on a four-year contract ensures they have secured the services of a player who will enjoy the final peak years of his career at Anfield.
The former Barcelona maestro could represent a changing of the guard for Liverpool in terms of transfers as the Reds have tended to avoid shopping in the elite section of the market and have instead looked to uncover hidden gems in uncharted areas of the football pyramid.
With Thiago, Liverpool have not just signed a world-class talent but have added a serial winner to a squad that has become possessed with winning silverware.
The Spaniard has won 23 honours at club level and will link up with his new teammates off the back of recently being crowned a Champions League winner for the second time in his career.
There will be intrigue to how Klopp will utilise Thiago in Liverpool’s midfield as the player’s adaptability offers Klopp the option to use a 4-2-3-1 system as opposed to his traditional 4-3-3.
With the likes of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Georginio Wijnaldum, Naby Keita, James Milner and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the addition of Thiago makes Liverpool’s midfield depth arguably the strongest in the Premier League.
It typifies the unquantifiable influence Klopp has had on the club since his arrival as in the space of just five short years, the Liverpool boss has once again made Anfield the most luring and appealing footballing destination on the planet.
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