LIVERPOOL have agreed a £25million deal to sign Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich.
On Thursday, Bayern president Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirmed the player’s desire to join the Premier League champions.
Thiago Alcantara has been a long-term target for the Anfield clubCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He told Bild: “I can confirm that FC Bayern has finally reached an agreement with Liverpool.
“It was Thiago’s great wish to do something new at the end of his career.”
The Athletic outline how talks accelerated during the week after the Bundesliga side set a tight deadline to complete the transfer.
Speculation over the move has persisted for many months with Thiago having just a year left on his Bayern contract.
And the Bavarians are said to have pushed for a breakthrough in talks before their season began.
Bayern start the defence of their Bundesliga crown at home to Schalke on Friday night.
The 29-year-old is set to cost Liverpool £25m once personal terms are finalised on a four-year contract.
The Times report on the deal for Thiago, who will take the No6 shirt, being split into a £20m up-front payment with £5m in add-ons.
He will become their second major signing of the transfer window after the Reds spent £11.75m on Greek left-back Kostas Tsimikas.
Manchester United were linked with a late bid for Thiago after deals for Jadon Sancho and Gareth Bale faded.
But the Red Devils will have to look elsewhere as Jurgen Klopp’s side look set to add the Champions League winner to their midfield.
Both clubs were criticised by a former Bayern Munich president for the manner they approached the deal – which was likened to “blackmail”.
Uli Hoeness told Sport1 earlier in the week: “A while ago we agreed on a new four-year contract.
“Some days later [Thiago] said, ‘I’m looking for a new challenge.’ Which is totally okay.
“I think he obviously has an agreement with Liverpool or Manchester United or both of them. Now both clubs are bluffing, and no one has contacted Bayern Munich officially.
“From my point of view, that has no style. They’re trying to blackmail us, by waiting until the last week, when they’re going to make a cheap offer.”
Despite Curtis Jones and Harvey Elliott pushing for more first-team action, playmaker Thiago was targeted amid rumours over Georginio Wijnaldum’s future.
The Dutch midfielder, 29, has just a year left to run on his Liverpool contract and is linked with Barcelona.
Reports earlier in the month suggested a £17.7m move was in the offing, with the player said to be keen on a fresh challenge.
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Sky Sports host has no idea Jurgen Klopp can hear as he describes him dodging Thiago transfer question ‘wonderfully’
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
