LFC Daytrippers contributor Grizz Khan has been discussing Thiago Alcantara on a recent edition of the podcast.
Liverpool recently confirmed the arrival of the Spanish midfielder, who has joined for a fee of £20m, according to BBC Sport. The player himself had appeared to confirm his departure from Bayern via social media. He had signed for Bayern from Barcelona back in 2013 for £22.5m (as per Transfermarkt).
In the Spaniard, the Reds will be getting a player who has won the UEFA Champions League twice and 11 league titles to date in both Spain and Germany. He made 24 appearances in the Bundesliga last season and according to WhoScored.com, his average performance rating was an impressive 7.47/10 – suggesting that he is very much still at his best.
According to Khan, the £43.2m-rated 29-year-old turned down a host of top European clubs who were interested in signing him, in favour of joining the Reds, here is what he had to say:
“Thiago Alcantara wants to leave Bayern Munich and come to play for Liverpool – not PSG, not Barcelona, not Man United, not Man City, not Chelsea – all these clubs, I can categorically tell every single listener, came in for him.
“The reason why their links died down after 2/3 days? He had given his word to [Jurgen] Klopp, Klopp had given his word to him, the deal was going to be done.”
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Liverpool were in excellent form last season and stormed to the Premier League title, leaving their nearest challengers Manchester City a staggering 18 points behind them. Taking into consideration Khan’s comments, it seems the player had his heart set on a move to Anfield all along and can now get down to work with the Reds following the confirmation of his transfer.