Gossip: Liverpool in £27m Thiago standoff; Man Utd settle for Costa
Is £27million really too much for Thiago? And Manchester United are getting desperate…
THIAGO STANDOFF
Reports over the weekend suggested Liverpool have agreed personal terms on a four-year deal with Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara. The Spaniard has apparently ‘said goodbye’ to his teammates ahead of the move: somewhat premature given he will be playing alongside them in the Champions League semi-final on Wednesday.
Jurgen Klopp is thought to be a big admirer of the playmaker – who isn’t? – and Thiago himself is keen to work under Klopp and test himself in the Premier League. But Liverpool and Bayern are some way apart in their valuations of the player, according to The Guardian. But that’s easy enough to sort out, just ask Ed Woodward.
The Bundesliga giants want £27million for Thiago, but Liverpool are reportedly unwilling to stretch to that price for a player with just one year left on his contract. Yes, it’s a lot in the circumstances, but in the grand scheme of things surely that is an absolute steal for one of the best passers of the ball in the game. Just pay it, or someone else will.
DOUGLAS COSTA LOT LESS
The Jadon Sancho alternatives train keeps chugging along. Manchester United are still keeping tabs on Douglas Costa as one of those options, and could settle on a deal for the Juventus winger, according to Sky Sports.
And he would be significantly cheaper – £40m-£50m should do it. But the decision not to pay £108million for a superior 20-year-old in favour of someone about to turn 30 for around half that is bizarre. But that doesn’t mean it won’t happen – this is Woodward and United, after all.
Juventus are desperate to get rid of the perennially injured winger, and an agent offering his client around like an old bag of sherbert lemons doesn’t scream deal of the century.
CITY BUY-BACK
It comes as no real surprise that Pep Guardiola is keen to trigger the buy-back clause that will see Douglas Luiz return to the Etihad from Aston Villa.
The dynamic midfielder was very impressive in the second half of the season in particular, and turned Villa from a one-man team into at least a one-and-a-half man setup. Guardiola has always been an admirer, but a combination of work permit issues and the depth of the City squad meant his two-year loan spell at Girona was followed by the move to Villa Park.
£25million is reportedly the figure that needs to be met to bring Luiz back to Manchester.
AND THE REST
Wolves continue Paulinho pursuit… Leeds have to pay £20m for Batshuayi… City reignite Koulibaly interest… Six in for Ben White… Wolves reject Ramsey swap deal for Jimenez… Juventus want Lacazette… Everton ask Watford about Doucoure… Juve could cash in on Ronaldo.