Liverpool transfer news LIVE: Thiago Alcantara completes move as Reds eye Diogo Jota, Ismaila Sarr and Nuno Mendes plus Premier League updates
The Reds will now focus on young talent after completing a deal for the former Bayern Munich star
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Liverpool are finalising a move for Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich for just €30m in one of the biggest transfers of the summer window, though the Spain midfielder’s wages will add up to a sizeable investment for the Reds once his four-year deal on Merseyside expires. Now attention must turn to freshening up a group in its absolute prime - if not slightly on the way down.
That means finding a good landing spot for Rhian Brewster on loan, as their talented young striker needs to develop, rather than sit and wait behind Jurgen Klopp’s deadly front three. Could a move to Sheffield United suit everybody involved? Then there’s Ismaila Sarr, a big-money deal with high upside and more in line with acquiring Sadio Mane before he exploded to become the superstar is now is.
The Reds always remain active in the market and now, with Thiago, appear primed to plot their dominance for years to come. Here are the latest stories surrounding Anfield as the Reds look to build on last season’s success.
KLOPP DENIES LAMPARD RIFT
Jurgen Klopp has denied that there are any problems between he and Frank Lampard.
The German seemingly questioned Chelsea’s ownership model last week, and their prolific spending in this transfer window.
However during his press conference today, the Liverpool boss shot down any notion of a rift between he and his opposite number Lampard.
"I can’t help with the rivalry, I have no problem, not at all, with Frank Lampard,” he said.
“When you ask me a question and I answer it, everyone takes it how they want to take it.
“It might be a language issue or whatever, you all make a story that I said something about the transfer behaviour of Chelsea.
“What I said was, in the situation we are in we can’t deal with the situation like other clubs, one of them was Chelsea maybe, I don’t know.
“Then you make a story about it and then you make a rivalry between Frank Lampard and me when we meet two or three times a year.
“I respect a lot what he is doing. He is probably a really nice guy, I don’t know because I don’t know him in private.
“On the sideline we are quite animated and emotional and sometimes you say things you shouldn’t, but that’s life and that’s how football is. There is nothing more than that.”
REDS URGED TO RE-SIGN SUAREZ BY CLUB LEGEND
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol has urged his former side to bring Barcelona striker Luis Suarez back to Anfield.
Suarez, who played for Liverpool from 2011 to 2014 before leaving for Spain, is thought to be surplus to requirements at the Camp Nou and seemed on the verge of a move to Juventus.
However the move to the Serie A giants appears to have fallen through, with the club now moving to sign Roma striker Edin Dzeko.
Nicol has now urged Liverpool to bring the Uruguayan back to Anfield.
Asked on ESPN FC if Liverpool should re-sign Suarez, Nicol replied: "Absolutely, 100 per cent, that would be a great [move]. It completely and utterly makes sense - it's being smart.
“You're going to get a guy who I think is going to be happy to go back and play at Anfield, is going to get sufficient amounts of games to keep him happy, he's quality, he will score goals, he will give you something in the front three that I don't think they possess.
“Maybe you can argue they don't need anything else right now but it makes complete sense.”
LEWANDOWSKI THANKS THIAGO
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski has thanked the departing Thiago Alcantara following his farewell video was posted on social media.
Alcantara is expected to join Liverpool today.
“It was a pleasure to play with such a Magician like you. Gracias Amigo,” the Polish striker wrote on Twitter.
It’s reported that Liverpool will pay Bayern £20m for the midfielder.
THIAGO ARRIVAL DOESN’T AFFECT OTHER PLAYERS SAYS KLOPP
Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp has stated that should Thiago Alcantara arrive, it doesn’t mean that any of his current players have to depart.
Despite remaining coy on the subject, it seems only a matter of hours before the signing is officially announced.
Gini Wijnaldum is thought to be one of the players who may have to depart in order to make room for Alcantara, but Klopp refutes this.
"If it happens, it has no impact on anybody’s future in a negative way,” he said.
“Somebody has to leave because somebody has come in, no. No impact.
“It’s about timing, sometimes you buy before you sell and sometimes you sell before you buy. There are different scenarios and sometimes you earn the money back in a different way.
“What is always true for us is that what we earn with football we spend with football, that’s the club. A pretty short summary of our philosophy but it’s one of the key points and we cannot just say we need this and that and cannot afford it.
“I would not insist on it but we work constantly on improvement, sometimes people like it and sometimes they like it later, that’s fact.
“The window itself leaves the window open, so that’s normal and I cannot promise we will do something and I cannot say it’s 100 percent sure we don’t do anything – it’s the situation.
“It’s a developing situation, everything could happen. A player could come to me and say I want to go, I don’t expect that, but it could happen and we have to react – all these things can happen.”
THIAGO DEAL NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL IT’S ANNOUNCED SAYS KLOPP
Jurgen Klopp is remaining tight-lipped on the impending signing of Thiago Alcantara from Liverpool.
It’s expected that the player will be announced today as a Liverpool player, with Alcantara himself already posting a farewell video message to Bayern Munich fans on Twitter.
Speaking at a press conference, Klopp remained coy on the subject.
“It’s not official until it’s announced,” said Klopp.
LIVERPOOL TO FIGHT UNITED FOR SARR
Liverpool have joined Manchester United in the race to sign Watford winger Ismaila Sarr, according to a report.
Teamtalk speculate that the Premier League champions are keen on signing the 22-year-old, and have started tentative talks with the London club over a potential move.
Sarr is valued by The Hornets at £40m and is also being monitored by United, however Teamtalk states that they haven’t made contact with Watford about a potential deal.
BALE A BETTER SIGNING THAN THIAGO SAYS PARLOUR
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes that Gareth Bale is a better signing for Spurs than Liverpool’s deal for Thiago Alcantara.
The former midfielder appeared on Talksport radio, and believes Bale will push Tottenham further due to Liverpool already being an excellent side.
LIVERPOOL LEGEND WOULD LIKE A NEW STRIKER
Liverpool legend John Aldridge has commented on the impending arrival of Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich, and says the side need another striker.
Alcantara is closing in on a move to the Premier League champions, and whilst Aldridge is happy about the move, he maintains the club should add a striker to their squad.
THIAGO POSTS GOODBYE VIDEO
Thiago Alcantara has posted a goodbye video for the Bayern Munich fans, ahead of his move to Premier League champions Liverpool.
The midfielder is closing in on a move to Anfield, and posted a video showcasing his seven years with Bayern.
THIAGO WASN’T IN LIVERPOOL’S PLANS
Liverpool weren’t going to sign Thiago Alcantara initially, but felt the opportunity was then too good to pass up, states Sky Sports.
The midfielder is closing in on a move to Anfield after seven years in Germany, but Sky Sports’ reporter Vinny O’Connor believes Liverpool weren’t going to sign Alcantara in this transfer window:
Liverpool's stance throughout the summer was that they would not be signing Thiago Alcantara - that changed a little a couple of weeks ago when the suggestion was they would only try to sign him if someone was leaving but they did not believe that was going to happen.
Now Liverpool have decided to go ahead regardless of that and they think Thiago is the man for them.
Jurgen Klopp had also been consistent throughout the summer - Liverpool would not be doing business unless a really good opportunity presented itself and a deal was there to be done.
This is a deal that Liverpool could not turn down.
At 29 Thiago does not necessarily fit the FSG model of buying players young, coaching them and increasing their ability and value, but the out-and-out quality of Thiago, combined with his experience of performing on the biggest stage meant this particular move was a no-brainer.
He is a player for the here and now, untested in the Premier League but someone who is used to performing on the biggest stage for Barcelona, Bayern and Spain.
The signing should also help to solve an issue that Liverpool have recognised recently - Trent Alexander Arnold alluded to it in an interview a couple of weeks ago - the game plan needs to change.
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