Thiago Alcantara’s looming transfer to Liverpool appears to have got the Virgil van Dijk seal of approval, with the defender ‘liking’ a tweet claiming the midfielder is Anfield-bound.
The Premier League champions have been trying to sign Thiago for much of the summer, though Bayern Munich would not budge from their €30million (£27m) valuation.
Liverpool wanted to pay closer to £18m at first, with minor concerns over Thiago’s age and injury record, while he only had one year left on his contract with the Bavarians.
There are some conflicting reports over the fee, though, with The Times claiming Liverpool will only pay £20m up front plus a further £5m in performance-related bonuses. Thiago’s signing has got Liverpool fans very excited indeed, providing a more creative presence in midfield – and it appears the club’s supporters are not the only ones delighted with the move.
As reports broke regarding the agreement, Van Dijk ‘liked’ a tweet from Times journalist Paul Joyce confirming the deal, with many fans taking his response as a sign that the deal will almost certainly happen. Thiago will sign a four-year deal with the Merseysiders and wear the number six shirt, with his arrival providing a huge boost to a squad who wiped the floor with the rest of the Premier League last season.
The 29-year-old midfielder enjoyed an excellent campaign last season and was instrumental in Bayern Munich’s Champions League victory, though he was keen for a new challenge elsewhere. His arrival does mean Liverpool are rather over-stocked with midfield options now and there have been suggestions Georginio Wijnaldum could leave Anfield if long-time suitors Barcelona make a suitable offer.
