‘I just couldn’t get near him’: Liverpool-linked £27m ace hailed by England international

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Liverpool have been linked with Thiago Alcantara for much of the summer, and if the Reds succeed in bringing him to Anfield, they’d be getting a player who Mason Mount admits he “couldn’t get near” when up against him.

According to Metro, the Bayern Munich midfielder is keen on a move to Liverpool and has held talks with Reds boss Jurgen Klopp over a potential move.

However, ESPN reports that Liverpool’s board will not sign off a deal for Thiago – who reportedly has a £27million price tag – without a significant departure first, due to financial constraints brought about by the global health crisis.

Should the Reds be able to raise the funds needed to bring the 29-year-old to Merseyside, they would be getting a player of the highest calibre, who has just helped his club to a treble of the Bundesliga, the German Cup and the Champions League.

Chelsea and England ace Mount played every minute over the two legs as Frank Lampard’s men were completely outclassed in a 7-1 aggregate defeat, and speaking to SPORTbible, he admitted just how good Thiago was when facing off with him.

Asked whether he had played against anyone who made him think, ‘Wow, this guy is on another level’, Mount told SPORTbible: “The Champions League is on another level. The games feel different.

“Bayern have some unbelievable world-class players… Lewandowski, [Joshua] Kimmich and Thiago in midfield, I just couldn’t get near him.

“They moved the ball around the team so quickly. When you’re up against players like that you’re thinking, ‘How are we going to stop this?’

“It was a big moment, it opened my eyes. It made me realise, “This is the next level, this where you need to be” and I am determined to work hard and reach that level.”

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In a normal transfer window, a player of Thiago’s calibre at a reported price tag of £27million would be a no-brainer for any club, and Liverpool’s impressive squad would be bolstered hugely by such a talented midfielder.

However, with Liverpool reportedly losing around £3million for every game behind closed doors, not to mention a £20million rebate to the league’s broadcasters (ESPN), finances are going to be a lot tighter.

And with Manchester United said to be lurking, this is one saga that Liverpool fans will be monitoring anxiously, given Thiago is a player that they really don’t want to miss out on.