Stewart Robson has backed Liverpool’s pursuit of Thiago Alcantara, claiming that he would ‘add something different’ to Jurgen Klopp’s Premier League champions.
Thiago to Anfield is arguably the transfer saga of the summer in England so far and there could be a breakthrough for the Reds shortly.
Liverpool are reportedly reluctant to shell out £27 million on a player they could sign to a pre-contract agreement in January, after entering the final year of his Bayern Munich contract.
But according to German outlet Abend Zeitung, Klopp and Michael Edwards will sign the player this summer.
The Barcelona academy graduate has just won the Champions League with Bayern, and former Arsenal player Robson believes that he could operate in a number of midfield role if he were to arrive at Anfield – including perhaps in the same position of captain Jordan Henderson or Fabinho a little deeper.
He told ESPN: “I think Thiago would be a great player to strengthen their squad. He would add something different to them. Somebody said he’d be great back-up for Henderson, but he’d be way ahead of Henderson.
“He would be their main man in midfield. He could even play the role Fabinho plays in terms of dictating the play and picking out those passes, just as he did for Bayern Munich in the Champions League final.”
You can definitely understand Liverpool’s reluctance to spend that money.
Yes, they certainly have the funds available, but it isn’t a smart business decision to spend that amount on a player who they could sign for free in five months or so.
That being said, it’s important that the Reds don’t rest on their laurels, because Chelsea are spending like there’s no tomorrow, potentially positioning themselves for a Premier League title bid, and Manchester City could have a certain Lionel Messi coming to Eastlands, so if Liverpool feel that Thiago is an important player to keep Klopp’s side ahead of their rivals then they have to pull the trigger.
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