Liverpool Seals Deal On Bayern’s Thiago Alcantara

Liverpool are closing in on a stunning swoop for Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

Jurgen Klopp has been tracking the Spain international for much of the window, with the German a long time admirer.

Thiago himself has also been keen to leave Bayern after a successful seven-year spell with the Bundesliga champions.

And after extensive talks, media sources understand that the Reds are closing in on his arrival after agreeing a £27million fee with Bayern.

Thiago will become Klopp’s second senior signing of the summer window as his team look to retain the Premier League title they won last term.

They got off to a winning start on Saturday, when a Mohammed Salah hat-trick inspired them to a 4-3 win over Leeds United.

Gerogino Wijnaldum played the full 90 minutes against Leeds, but speculation over his future could be set to intensify with the imminent arrival of Thiago.

Wijnaldum has been extensively linked with Barcelona and with just one-year left on his Anfield deal.

However earlier this week, Klopp detailed talks with the Netherlands international and while claiming the pair are “fine” about his future, he suggested a new deal was no closer.

Klopp said: “Since Gini is here, I think I have had five, six hundred talks with him so that is always the same, nothing else to say about that.

“Of course I’ve spoken to him since he came back from international duty. Yes it is absolutely fine about the future.

“I can’t speak about the future in a few years but it is all fine for the moment. You know the situation.

“Between, me, Gini and the club everything is completely fine – apart from anything to announce to you.

“But that is more your problem than ours because we are completely fine about the situation.”

Wijnaldum has spent the last four seasons on Merseyside, playing an integral role in the successes achieved by Klopp.

But despite any links with a move to the Camp Nou, Barcelona’s current financial situation means a bid that the Reds would accept, appears very unlikely.

And that will delight Klopp, who last year described the former Newcastle United man as the “perfect” midfield player.

In October, the Liverpool boss said: “Gini speaks on the pitch for the way he plays. It’s just so obvious his importance. It is both directions, small spaces, big spaces, it is hard challenges, fine football, pretty much all of that.

“Is he the perfect midfielder? From the skillset 100 per cent. He has all the things you need. There was his header against Barcelona too. He is not the tallest, but he is good in the air. He is a good jumper with good timing, all that stuff. It all makes him a pretty good footballer.

“That is how it should be. It is not my fault if he goes under the radar. You cannot ask me why he goes under the radar. I don’t set the radar!”