Journalist Raphael Honigstein has now delivered his verdict about Thiago Alcantara and his potential move to Liverpool.
Honigstein was recently a guest on the Totally Football Show podcast. He discussed Thiago and how he could fit in at Liverpool. The journalist suggested that while Thiago is a very good player, he might not suit Liverpool’s transfer strategy.
Spanish outlet Sport recently stated that Liverpool are in advanced talks to sign the Spaniard and they had revealed that the Reds were ‘very close’ to signing the midfielder. However, the Liverpool Echo later quashed these rumours, saying that these reports are ‘unfounded’.
Honigstein went on to talk about Thiago and his suitability to the Reds. He said: “It hasn’t been categorically denied, but at the same time, a lot of cold water has been poured on the idea that Liverpool would be going for him.
Will Liverpool defy their transfer policy to sign Thiago?
No chance
Yes, we will
“What would he bring to Liverpool? Well, I think he’d add a whole new dimension to the midfield. He’s a ball-player, he’s a possession footballer. He’s the man for the final pass or for the penultimate pass. I think he would add a lot of real class and pressing resistance, as well. But is he, at 29, the player that really changes this Liverpool to the extent they want to spend money that perhaps, they could spend on another centre-back, for example?
“I’m just not 100% sure he really fits into their transfer strategy, but considering that he would be able to stay fit, he’s a world-class player that can improve any team in the world.”
While Honigstein has high praise for the 29-year-old, he does have concerns about how the former Barcelona man could fit into Liverpool’s policy and if his fitness is up to the mark or not.
TIF Thoughts…
The 2019/20 Bundesliga season saw Thiago pick up a WhoScored rating of 7.47/10, which was the fourth-best tally in the Bayern Munich side. It shows that he is a quality player and enjoyed a pretty good campaign for the German giants.
Honigstein’s concerns about him not matching Liverpool’s transfer policy could be valid. Liverpool signed the likes of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Virgil van Dijk when they were in their mid-twenties, while Thiago turns 30 next April.
There is a pattern in all of this, suggesting how Liverpool’s policy is aimed at signing players that are in their prime years. So in that way, Liverpool could indeed be going against their policy by going after Thiago.