The ACL injury to Gavi this past weekend has changed the transfer plans for Barcelona heading into the January transfer window. So they may now head to sign Thiago Alcantara from Liverpool.
The idea had been to bring in Vitor Roque as a top priority in the winter. But with Gavi now ruled out for the remainder of the campaign. The focus is now also on roping in a new midfielder.
The fact that La Liga regulations allow Barça to make an emergency signing to replace Gavi. Despite exceeding the salary limit, as long as some conditions are met, opens the door for a move.
Thiago Alcantara on the radars of Barcelona
Amidst this SPORT is reporting that Liverpool veteran midfielder Thiago Alcantara could be an option for FC Barcelona in their bid to replace Gavi in the January transfer window.
The former Barcelona midfielder’s contract with the Reds expires in 2024. It means he maybe an affordable target for the Catalans come the January window.
The report suggests that Liverpool would be open to the idea of letting Thiago leave in the winter thanks to the commitment he has shown to the club in the past three years.
The veteran Spaniard was struggling with some fitness problems in recent times. However, he seems to be in perfect condition by the time the new year rolls in.
Thiago seen as a good fit for Barcelona post Gavi removal:
Apart from the financial viability of the operation, what makes Thiago an enticing option for Barcelona is that he knows the club in and out and is aware of the Barça DNA.
Xavi knows Thiago Alcantara and believes that the midfielder will not take much time to adapt to the tactics. Moreover, he would be a good fit in the interior midfield position.
Other names like Jorginho and Guido Rodriguez, who are also in a similar situation to that of Thiago, are also being studied.
But the Arsenal and Real Betis stars do not necessarily fit the profile of an interior midfielder. Hence they are more seen as options for the pivot position for the summer of 2024.
However, let’s see if Barcelona decide to bring back a former La Masia graduate in Thiago Alcantara. Or they decide to back the current crop of youngsters like Fermin Lopez, Marc Bernal, and Aleix Garrido in Gavi’s absence.
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