Liverpool are not anticipating Thiago Alcantara to remain at the club beyond this summer, as per Football Insider.
The 32-year-old has recently returned from a hip injury following nearly a year on the sidelines.
During that period, Thiago encountered several setbacks in his rehabilitation before finally making his long-awaited comeback off the bench in Sunday’s (4 February) 3-1 defeat away at Arsenal. He is slated to be included in the squad for Saturday’s Premier League clash against Burnley.
Jurgen Klopp is a fan of the midfielder, having signed him from Bayern Munich in 2020, and almost invariably includes him in the team when he’s fit.
Klopp sees him as possessing a unique skill-set compared to his other midfielders, capable of setting the team’s tempo in a way that few players can match.
However, with Klopp’s imminent departure this summer, it’s believed that Thiago will have to maintain fitness and play a significant role for the remainder of the 2023-24 season to have any hope of securing a contract extension.
The ex-Spain international will reach 33 in June, coinciding with the expiration of his current contract at Anfield.
Thiago reportedly earns £200,000 per week while playing for Liverpool and has not yet agreed to a contract extension since joining the club.
Despite being with Liverpool for some time, Thiago has only made 98 appearances and has not been a consistent starter since his arrival.
His playing time has been limited due to injuries, with only 14 league starts during the 2022-23 season.
Liverpool’s midfield underwent major changes during the recent summer transfer window, with the arrivals of Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo, and Dominik Szoboszlai.
Jordan Henderson and Fabinho exited Anfield, adding to the list of midfield departures. The potential return of Thiago might provide a significant boost to Liverpool’s aspirations in the Premier League title battle.
Liverpool presently hold the top spot with 51 points, albeit having played one more game than Manchester City, who trail them in second place and have one game in hand.
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