Add as preferred source on Google

Dietmar Hamann has suggested he’s still unconvinced by Thiago Alcantara in a Liverpool shirt.

Thiago, who joined for £20million (BBC) last summer, arrived at Anfield fresh off the back of winning the Champions League with Bayern Munich.

His arrival was greeted with massive excitement from Reds supporters, who were predicting he would help add some extra guile in the centre of the park.

The 30-year-old midfielder was plagued by injuries during the first half of this season, and since then he’s struggled to become a talisman for the Merseyside club like most expected he would do.

Thiago is yet to score or assist in his 23 Liverpool appearances so far across all competitions. Additionally, the central midfielder has been left out of starting XIs recently by manager Jurgen Klopp.

Hamann picked out the Spaniard as someone who’s a concern right now, and suggests the midfield area in general is something that needs to be addressed in the summer transfer window.

“[James] Milner is 35 now, [Naby} Keita hasn’t really come to the party since he joined Liverpool, and there are still a lot of question marks over Thiago,” Hamann told talkSPORT.

“If [Georginio] Wijnaldum goes, I think they will need at least two players in the centre of midfield.”

TBR’s View:

If Thiago can try finish the season strongly, it will give him a big lift going into next year.

Despite a muted first campaign in English football, it would be foolish to write off a player with so much technical ability and pedigree on the elite stage.

He’s shown in glimpses what he’s capable of with his passing range and leadership, but he needs to do much more going forward.