Thiago Alcantara: Bayern Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge confirms player wants to leave

The summer transfer window will run for 10 weeks from July 27 and close at 11pm on October 5. Follow all the news and analysis on Sky Sports News and across Sky Sports' digital platforms

Friday 31 July 2020 18:02, UK

Thiago Alcantara has informed Bayern Munich he wants to leave the club this summer, chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has confirmed.

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It is news that could be of interest to Liverpool who have been heavily linked with a move for the 29-year-old midfielder.

Rummenigge admitted that talks between Alcantara and sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic over a new deal have broken down because the former Barcelona player has decided to move on.

"The talks Hasan (Salihamidzic) had with him have always been very productive. And at some point it actually seemed that [a new contract] was done," Rummenigge told Sky Germany.

"But then Thiago told Hasan some time ago that he would like to try something new at the end of his career. We have to accept that."

Alcantara has one year left on his current deal but Rummenigge says they will only allow the midfielder to depart on their terms and will not be forced into a quick sale.

"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," Rummenigge said.

"No club has contacted us to date and wants to have concrete discussions with us.

"We will only starting negotiating for their (Thiago and Alaba's) sale from a certain amount. There will be no summer sales at FC Bayern.''

Could Thiago be heading for Liverpool?

German football expert Rafa Honigstein told Sky Sports:

"Bayern had an offer of a contract extension on the table. They thought they'd agreed but he's changed his mind. The club assumed that he must already have a deal in place with someone else, but that side are yet to reveal their hand.

"There's been no firm offer yet from anyone, but Bayern are bracing themselves for Liverpool because that's the rumour in the dressing room. But we haven't seen any offer yet and Liverpool have distanced themselves from making a move for Thiago. That could just be part of their strategy, but Bayern are more or less resigned to him leaving.

"I think that would be a big blow for them as he's more or less been running games for them and is an absolute key player in my mind. It'll be very difficult for Bayern to find a player who is like Thiago, who's so unique in his technical ability. It's a blow for Bayern and something that they didn't expect.

"In Germany they are saying that if Liverpool buy Thiago, they'll win every game next year! He's just been so good. If there's one player they're missing in that midfield it's that technical player. More of a creator and a dribbler... somebody who scores spectacular goals and can find a pass. It's not a player that Liverpool have accommodated in recent years and it would change the dynamic of their midfield if you find space for him.

"But in terms of real quality, technique and unique skills any club in the world should be in for him. If Liverpool get him in the summer when the traditional powerhouses on the continent can't do it, the deal would be an absolute steal for the kind of money Bayern are talking about - £25m.

"He's only got a year left on his contract, but for a player who's going to be at his peak for another two or three years, that is a bargain in my book. Whoever gets him is getting an absolute diamond."

Summer transfer window - key dates and times

The summer transfer window will run for 10 weeks from July 27 and close at 11pm on October 5.

A domestic-only window for trades between the Premier League and EFL then runs from October 5 and closes on Friday October 16 at 5pm. Follow all the news and analysis on Sky Sports News and across Sky Sports' digital platforms, including with our dedicated Transfer Centre.