A latest twist has put Thiago to Liverpool in doubt.
It’s been the biggest running transfer saga of the summer and we all seem like we’re waiting for the news to be confirmed.
But could it be over?
According to the Independent journalist Tony Evans, it might not be as straight forward as we all think.
Liverpool have been crying out for Thiago, especially after his magical showing in the Champions League. Bayern Munich remain open to selling and everyone knows that but the board seem reluctant to pull the trigger.
Jurgen Klopp is up to his eyeballs in midfield options and there will certainly need to be a few movements out of Merseyside before the German moves in the market.
However, club finances have gone through the floor after COVID-19 has robbed them of match day income and other sources of funding.
When you have a squad full of top players on good money, that represents a problem. Just look around sides like Barcelona and Real Madrid and you’ll see elite footballers that can’t find a move away for love nor money.
One avenue that could lead to Thiago coming in is Gini Wijnaldum heading over to Barcelona. We’ve seen reports that Wijnaldum is keen to make that move, and his former Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman wants to bring in the Dutchman to add some energy and power to midfield.
Koeman is the new Barca boss and has been tasked with overseeing a clear out. Gini could be the broom Koeman wields to achieve that objective.
His contract is into the last 12 months, but Evans wrote that Liverpool don’t want to lose Wijnaldum and that could throw a massive spanner in the works.
Klopp doesn’t see him as surplus to requirements, said the Indy journalist. Klopp’s perfect scenario would be for Gini to sign a new deal, which would mean the midfielder would finish his elite years at Anfield.
"Evans wrote: “Klopp would prefer the Dutchman to stay and sign a new contract but Barcelona’s interest has a way of turning heads. There are a number of midfielders who are surplus to requirements at Anfield but Wijnaldum is not one of them.”"
How much will this impact Liverpool’s desire to sign Thiago? We don’t know right now, but if Wijnaldum can be convinced to stay you’d assume it would make any deals for any midfielders a lot more difficult.