Liverpool
Premier League • England
Liverpool threatened by new Saudi bid for another key Klopp midfielder in transfer package surpassing £10m
Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli have made an offer to Liverpool for Thiago Alcantara, according to reports, after several of his teammates also moved to the Middle East.
Liverpool have sold Jordan Henderson to Al-Ettifaq and Fabinho to Al-Ittihad this summer as part of their midfield overhaul. In other territory, striker Roberto Firmino has left for Al-Ahli. And now, it has emerged that Thiago could follow him.
According to L’Equipe, Al-Ahli have submitted a €12m offer to take Thiago away from Liverpool. In English money, their bid equates to around £10.4m.
Thiago is into the final year of his contract at Anfield, although links with a move to Sevilla were recently played down and there has been an expectation that he could see out his terms as a Liverpool player.
Now, though, a lucrative offer could be in store from Saudi Arabia. It is not yet clear how Liverpool will respond to Al-Ahli’s advances for the 32-year-old.
There has been a feeling for a while that Thiago could have suitors in Saudi Arabia. Now, a concrete attempt by one of the clubs under the control of the country’s Public Investment Fund appears to have been made.
However, Fabrizio Romano has since denied that there are any talks between Thiago and Al-Ahli. In fact, he is believed to have said no to several opportunities to move to Saudi Arabia this summer.
Al-Ahli’s squad also contains former Manchester City winger Riyad Mahrez, ex-Chelsea goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, Leeds old boy Ezgjan Alioski, former Newcastle forward Allan Saint-Maximin and recent Barcelona leaver Franck Kessie.
Further strengthening a squad that won promotion back to the Pro League ahead of the new season after their first ever relegation from the top flight in 2022, Al-Ahli – who are cross-Jeddah rivals of Fabinho’s Al-Ittihad – could now be aiming to have a combination of Kessie and Thiago to rely on in midfield.
Thiago linked with Liverpool exit
Since joining Liverpool from Bayern Munich in 2020, Thiago has made 97 appearances – including 28 last season, although he featured in fewer than half of their Premier League matches – and scored three goals. But he may be at risk of joining their midfield exodus.
While Alexis Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai have arrived at Liverpool this summer, they have said goodbye to Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner, Naby Keita, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arthur Melo and Fabio Carvalho.
They have been chasing a deal for Romeo Lavia from Southampton, but have now been overtaken by Chelsea in that particular pursuit.
A deal for Fluminense star Andre has also hit some complications, causing a degree of stress before the season starts with a match away at Chelsea – who have also lost several midfielders and sold various players to Saudi clubs this summer – on Sunday.
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