Barcelona want "dream" transfer to reunite with Thiago Alcantara

Barcelona want to reach a "dream" transfer agreement for Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara to cover for the injured talent that is Gavi.

It's not the first time he has been linked with a return to the Camp Nou, where he played exactly 100 games, after a report in November linked the La Liga outfit with a January swoop.

The Spanish midfielder has yet to play a single minute this season as his recovery from surgery on a hip injury has been impacted by setbacks.

Thiago is one of the most talented midfielders of his generation but his body has often failed him. It's a real shame. Especially given the form Liverpool are in this season.

Many fans are excited by the thought that Jurgen Klopp's team is excelling without him. His return could take them to even greater heights.

That is if he doesn't leave for Barcelona this month as is being speculated.

Barcelona are "eyeing dream" transfer swoop for Thiago

A report from the Mirror states that "Barcelona want to re-sign Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara in January."

As mentioned, the Catalonians are without Gavi after the super-talented young midfielder suffered the injury all footballers dread: a total ACL rupture.

For a player as dependent on agility and intensity as Gavi has been, it's a shattering blow and all football fans hope that it doesn't steal his potential away from him.

The 19-year-old won't play again this season and will likely be eased back into playing when the 2024/25 season begins.

Thiago, whose Liverpool contract expires at the end of the season, is an affordable and quality option for Barcelona manager Xavi Hernandez to consider.

Club president Joan Laporta has recently confirmed that Barcelona will sign a new midfielder this month to provide cover in light of Gavi's injury.

Laporta told the press in December: "If we manage to make the (financial) fair play work, the idea is to have another midfielder to compensate for the loss of Gavi.

"It would be a loan until the end of the season, like we did years ago with Edgar Davids, for example. I think before the end of the year we can create the space for a couple of deals we are working on."

Will Liverpool sell Thiago or will Barcelona sign him?

Despite Barcelona's desire to sign Thiago, the Reds are not willing to let him leave as Jurgen Klopp wants him "to stay to boost Liverpool's title charge", the Mirror reports.

After 20 games, they are top of the Premier League table and have a real chance to win the title again.

It would mark the second time Klopp has won the title but there is still a lot of football to be played.

And despite Thiago's unreliable injury history, having him back would allow the coaching staff to rotate the midfield more regularly which can be the deciding factor in a tight title race.

With Thiago out of contract in the summer, FIFA rules enable him to talk to interested clubs without needing permission from Liverpool but if Barcelona want to sign him this month, they will need to pay a fee.

Given his injury status and the length of his contract remaining, it seems difficult to imagine Liverpool would be able to recoup any more than £10 million so it makes sense to keep him until the end of the season in hopes that he contributes real value to the title race.