Liverpool’s reported deal to land Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara has been described by Sky Sports transfer expert Kaveh Solhekol as ‘the best lease-purchase deal I have ever seen’.
James Pearce of The Athletic broke the news on Thursday that Liverpool had negotiated a deal with Bayern and is set to become Jurgen Klopp’s second signing of the summer transfer window.
Paul Joyce, among others, has reported that the club will pay a paltry £20m guaranteed with up to £5m further in bonuses. Thiago will wear the No.6 shirt at Anfield.
It is the deal that supporters wanted to see get over the line more than any other as Liverpool secure the services of a player who is among the best midfielders in Europe.
Solhekol of Sky Sports was full of praise for Liverpool amid Thiago’s imminent Anfield arrival referring to the lure of the Reds at this current moment as Klopp has been able to successful poach a world-class player from the reigning Champions League winners.
He also spoke in-depth about how Liverpool were shrewdly able to negotiate a deal that ensured the club are to pay the reported £20m in four-yearly instalments, as opposed to a straight upfront buyout.
“This just shows you how high Liverpool’s standing is in world football at the moment. We are talking about a player who is at Bayern Munich,” Solhekol said on the Sky Sports Transfer Show.
“He had a year left on his contract, he has won a sixth title in a row, he has just won the European Cup. Bayern Munich put a new four-year contract in front of him. He was about to sign it, and at the last minute, he changed his mind. He said he wanted a new challenge and of course, that challenge is to play for Liverpool and under Jurgen Klopp. It just shows you the pull of Liverpool at the moment.
“Looking at the deal, we were told Liverpool were never going to pay the asking price for Thiago which was €30 million. But, when you look at the deal now, it is actually an incredible deal for Liverpool.
“They are paying £20 million spread out over a four-year contract. So they are actually paying £5 million a year for arguably the best midfielder in the world.
“That means it is the best lease-purchase deal I have ever seen. To get a player as good as Thiago Alcantara for just £5 million a year. You have to say an incredible set of business by Liverpool and also shows how highly regarded Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp are in world football. For a player to turn his back on Bayern Munich and go to Liverpool is fantastic news, if you are a Liverpool fan.”
What RTK has to say
Solhekol is absolutely spot-on.
This is beyond great value for the Spanish international, who was recently crowned a Champions League winner for the second time in his illustrious career.
At 29, Liverpool have secured a player whose peak years are still ahead of him and one who is versatile, hard-working and who can change the tempo and make the game bend to his will.
Liverpool haven’t been able to shop this high up in the market in years. Even in the cases of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker, stealing star-players from Southampton and Roma does not warrant the same statement of intent as signing a serial winner from under the noses of Bayern Munich.
It is the first occasion of the Klopp era where the German manager has been able to purchase a ready-made serial winner from a European rival and this cannot be overlooked.
Liverpool’s previous deals to sign Kostas Tsimikas, Takumi Minamino and Adrian were sanctioned in the attempt to improve squad depth whereas Thiago immediately improves a starting XI that registered a frankly ridiculous 99-points tally last season.
The Reds have utilised their status as English champions to some effect and have brought in the one player that supporters have craved more than anyone else this summer transfer window.
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