The Thiago transfer saga heated up on Thursday after it was reported that Liverpool had begun negotiations with Bayern Munich to bring the Spaniard to Anfield.
The news may have caused many Liverpool fans to turn their attention to the Champions League Quarter Final, where they would have watched the potential new signing and his Bayern teammates humiliate his former club Barcelona in an 8-2 victory.
For the Reds that were on a scouting mission, they would have witnessed an excellent display of intelligence, creativity and discipline by the Bavarian’s Number Six; an array of attributes which Thiago has consistently demonstrated throughout the season in which Munich won the Bundesliga.
Primarily, Thiago operates as a defensive-minded central midfielder, with the ability to drive forward and create opportunities with a through ball or a switch of play. Despite only registering 2 assists in all competitions, Thiago has created 31 chances (1.15 chances p90) demonstrating his creativity from deep.
And when he has no options? The Spanish international is not afraid to go alone. Against 1. FSV Mainz 05, Thiago took matters into his own hands as he received the ball on the edge of the box, dribbled past three players before driving the ball into the bottom corner.
For someone who is praised for his ability to get forward, the relatively small number of assists may be a cause for concern. However, Bayern have typically gone with a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Thiago sitting at the base of the midfield in the ‘2’ of the midfield. Because the Bundesliga champions showcase some of the finest attacking talents in the world, Thiago’s responsibilities are mainly defensive.
In the Bundesliga, Thiago accumulated more interceptions per game than any current Liverpool midfielder at 1.9, with his closest competitor being Fabinho with 1.2. Thiago also registered 1.9 tackles per game, sitting in third place behind Jordan Henderson (2.1) and Fabinho (2.2). His ability to read the game and win the ball back is evident, and will only aid Jurgen Klopp’s pressing philosophy, a system Thiago is already familiar with at his current club.
As Liverpool operate a 4-3-3 system, it is unlikely Thiago would occupy the role of the base midfielder, as he has in Germany. With some exceptional performances, Fabinho has made that position his own, with Henderson rotating with the Brazilian when needed. Thiago would instead occupy one of the more advanced midfield roles, which would suit both Liverpool and the player. Fabinho’s discipline in the defensive midfield role would give Thiago more freedom to press, regain possession, and support the attack.
However, as exciting as the player is, it would be premature to get excited just yet. Thiago does not fit Liverpool’s usual transfer strategy. The Red’s tend to target players below the age of 24 – Thiago is 29.
Liverpool also have a healthy amount of depth in midfield, and due to the pandemic, FSG are acting in the transfer market with caution and subsequently pulled out of a deal for Timo Werner, who has since joined Chelsea.
Bayern are demanding no more than €30 million and it is no secret that the player wants to come to Liverpool. It’s down to Liverpool to get the deal done. A midfielder may not have been a priority for Klopp, however, this is a fantastic opportunity to bring in a world-class player who will no doubt have a very positive impact.
