Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara linked with return to former club Barcelona

With just a year left on his current contract, speculation surrounding Thiago Alcantara's Liverpool future has built up in recent weeks. 

Having already been touted for moves to both Saudi Arabia and Turkey, the 32-year-old has now been linked with a return to former club Barcelona.

According to Spanish newspaper SPORT, Thiago has emerged as an option for the Catalan giants as they look to shore up their options in the centre of the park. Xavi confirmed earlier this summer that Barcelona would look to snap up two midfielders, with Ilkay Gundogan already joining the club on a free transfer from Manchester City.

SPORT further claim that while Oriol Romeu and Giovani Lo Celso are Barcelona's primary targets, they are keeping a close eye on Thiago, who played alongside Xavi during his time at the club. The Spanish midfielder's versatility and experience have been mentioned as traits Barcelona admire, while the fact that he could be available for an 'affordable fee' is believed to be a key factor in any potential deal, considering the club's precarious financial situation.

Meanwhile reports from Turkey claim that Galatasaray could make an offer of €10m to sign the playmaker from Liverpool.

Thiago is currently working his way back to full fitness after undergoing hip surgery at the business end of the last season. The former Barcelona midfielder has one more year to run on his current Liverpool deal, which is reportedly worth around £200k a week.

With both Jordan Henderson and Fabinho's Liverpool futures hanging in the balance amid interest from the Saudi Pro League, it remains unlikely that Liverpool would sanction a move for all three midfielders this summer, having already let Naby Keita and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leave on free transfers.

Thiago's future may depend on the outcome of other more pressing deals.