Liverpool star ‘seriously’ considering Anfield exit despite ‘turning deaf ear’ to Saudi offers

Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara is leaning towards a departure from Anfield this summer despite rejecting a move to Saudi Arabia, according to reports.

The Reds are suffering from a mass exodus in midfield after allowing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, James Milner and Naby Keita to leave on free transfers at the end of June.

Jurgen Klopp did add Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig but it looks like Jordan Henderson and Fabinho will imminently depart to Saudi Arabia.

Liverpool are reportedly finalising the details of Henderson’s £12m move to Al Ettifaq, who are managed by Reds legend Steven Gerrard, while Fabinho has permission to speak to Al Ittihad after the Premier League side accepted a £40m bid.

There have been rumours that Thiago could also follow them out of Anfield with Spanish side Barcelona and a number of Saudi Pro League clubs interested.

And now Spanish publication Sport insists that Thiago is now ‘seriously’ considering a possible departure from Liverpool with the Spaniard privately admitting that leaving Anfield is the ‘best option’ for his career.

READ MORE: Mediawatch: Liverpool could hijack Chelsea move or sign Lavia AND Doucoure as two £80m transfer plans emerge

Thiago is ‘looking for an alternative to reactivate his career’ with the newspaper describing him at a ‘crossroads’ and has ‘also received offers’ from the Turkish Super Lig.

Despite Fabinho and Henderson probably leaving, Sport add that Thiago will have ‘very few options to have minutes in the next campaign’ with injuries his main problem since joining Liverpool.

Because of those issues, the report continues by saying that Liverpool ‘have not sat down with him to extend his contract’ – but there is a ‘glimpse of hope’ for Thiago with his ‘dream of returning’ to Barcelona ‘could finally materialise’.

For now, Thiago has ‘turned a deaf ear to the siren songs of Saudi Arabia’ and will keep interest from Turkey on ‘stand by’ in the hope that Barcelona will make a concrete offer.

Steve McManaman reckons Manchester City midfielder Kalvin Phillips could be a realistic target for Liverpool if they lose Fabinho this summer.

McManaman told Betfred: “If Liverpool lose Fabinho, then I believe that Kalvin’s name would come into the mix. He’s English, he’s an England international, he plays in that role and I don’t believe that Manchester City would expect a club to break the bank for him.

“There may be a deal there to pursue and if Jürgen Klopp is to lose a defensive midfielder this summer, then a move for Kalvin could certainly be an option, but it all depends on whether Manchester City would be willing to let him go to a Premier League rival.

“Manchester City have brought in Mateo Kovačić after losing İlkay Gündoğan, so they still have a similar nucleus of players that were there last season, so it’s still up in the air, but a move for Kalvin could easily happen as he fits the profile of what Liverpool would need if Fabinho leaves.

“He likes to work hard, he wants to prove a point, but it all depends on whether Pep Guardiola would be willing to let him join a rival and whether Kalvin would want to leave Manchester City after they’ve just won the treble.”