From Brazil: Liverpool player can agree pre-contract to seal summer exit from Anfield

Thiago Alcantara is out of contract at the end of the season and he is now free to agree a pre-contract agreement with interested clubs with Flamengo in Brazil emerging as an option.

According to Julio Miguel Neto, the club has "requested" his signing and would like to sign him as a free agent in the summer.

Liverpool, of course, will not receive a fee for his services which will bring an end to what has been a very disappointing transfer.

It's been great to see the Spanish wizard when he's been fit but that has never been a regular thing and he will leave having played very little football for the Reds.

It's a real shame as Thiago is one of the most talented players of his generation and if his body was more reliable, he could have achieved even more than he has.

Liverpool hope to have the midfielder back in training before the end of January so he should be fit to play in the run-in to the end of the season. Big emphasis on should.

If he is able to play, Jurgen Klopp will have a surprise trump card as his midfield is already firing on all cylinders, helping guide the Reds into a title race and a semi-final.

Thiago deserves to lift more silverware with Liverpool and if all goes well, he could win four trophies this season although there is a lot of football to be played before that is decided.