According to reports from The Daily Star yesterday afternoon, Manchester City are targeting Bayern Munich star Thiago Alcantara as a potential alternative to Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba.
The France international, famed for his blend of firepower, physicality and technical flair, seems like the natural successor to Yaya Toure in City’s midfield. But he allegedly turned down the chance to join Chelsea in a £62million deal this summer and his heart appears set on moving to Barcelona once their transfer embargo is lifted in the new year.
According to The Star, the Citizens are now eyeing Bayern’s Alcantara as a potential alternative. A creation of Barca’s renowned La Masia academy set-up, he’s one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe, having claimed the Silver Boot and Golden Player awards during Spain’s U21 European Championship-winning campaign in 2013.
City and local rivals Manchester United were both linked with bids the five-cap senior international before he surprisingly left the Nou Camp two summers ago – a clause relating to playing time reducing his buy-out fee from €90million to just €18million – but he turned up at the Allianz Arena instead.
He’s very much Pep Guardiola’s playmaking protege but recurring injury problems have limited him to just 46 appearances since the start of the 2013/14 campaign – eight of which have come this season.
The Star claim Bayern ‘would listen to decent offers’ and that City Sporting Director Txiki Bergiristain, a former winger and director of football at the Nou Camp, is a ‘certified fan’ of the 24 year-old. However, the British tabloid fail to mention whether City’s apparent interest will have any bearing on United’s.
Tiago will be a good signing for Manchester City coz Paul Pogba needs to partner with Coutinho in that Barcelona midfield