Liverpool have been handed a boost in their bid to land Thiago Alcantara this summer after claims the midfielder has informed Bayern Munich he wants to quit the Allianz Arena.
The Premier League champions have been heavily linked with the 29-year-old midfielder as they seek to strengthen their side in preparation of defending their crown next term.
Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has admitted that despite initial encouraging talks with Alcantara and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic over a new deal, the former Barcelona star has decided to move on.
‘In fact, the talks Hasan had with him have always been very productive. And at some point it actually seemed that it was done [a new contract at Bayern],’ Rummenigge told Sky Germany.
‘But then Thiago informed Hasan that he would like to do something new. We have to accept that.’
Alcantara has just one year left on his current deal, but Rummenigge has stated that they will only allow the midfielder to depart on their terms and will not be forced into a sale.
Reports this week indicated that a fee of £27million could be enough for Jurgen Klopp to land the Spaniard.
‘We have a contract with Thiago that is still valid for one year and if he reaches an agreement with any club then that club should pay a transfer fee of a certain amount,’ he added.
‘I do not want to make any public comment about the fee that we have in mind. As I have already said, we’ll not have a summer sale at Bayern. There will always have to be a certain amount that will make us sell a player.’
‘I’m not angry at all, I like him. I think he’s a great footballer and he has a good character too. And you shouldn’t forget either that at 29, he is at an age where, if he wants to do something new, he has to do it now.’
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