Liverpool ace turns down Saudi transfer to earn new deal

Stuart Telford

• 16 Dec 2023 20:46 GMT
• 3 min read

Thiago Alcantara is set to spurn the advances of the Saudi Pro League and fight for a new contract at Liverpool, according to a report.

Thiago's Liverpool future has looked uncertain of late. A hip injury that required surgery has kept the midfielder from making any appearances this season, and he is out of contract at the end of the campaign.

The make matter worse, Liverpool spent big on their midfield in the summer, dropping a total of €172 million on Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo.

Al-Ettifaq, now managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard and who employ Thiago's former Reds teammate Jordan Henderson, were credited with an interest last summer, but the Spaniard held firm.

"[Thiago] has shown little to no interest in making the switch [to Saudi Arabia], despite the huge money on offer, and is unlikely to consider a U-turn unless he becomes a free agent in the summer," report Toby Cudworth and Graeme Bailey for 90min.

Thiago contract extension?

"Thiago is closing on a return to action… he hopes to convince [Jurgen] Klopp and Liverpool's hierarchy that he's worthy of a contract extension."

Thiago could certainly help Liverpool if fit. The Italy-born Spaniard, son of Brazilian World Cup winner Mazinho, has attempted an average of 8.7 progressive passes per 90 minutes across his last year of action - the kind of distribution that a speed merchant like Darwin Nunez might thrive on.

Working against him is the fact that Trent Alexander-Arnold has been repurposed as a central midfielder of late, and is posting similar numbers in that regard.

Thiago, who's highest estimated value was €50.8 million during his Bayern Munich pomp per FootballTransfers' in-house algorithm, is now rated at just €5.4m - owing in part to his expiring contract.

Liverpool might be better having the squad option than taking any transfer fee in that region.