Liverpool transfers: Thiago Alcantara wanted by Flamengo and Al-Ettifaq

Thiago Alcantara looks certain to depart Liverpool this summer with his contract expiring and no new deal on the horizon for the Spain midfielder. 

The recently-turned 33-year-old has endured another nightmare season at Anfield, making just one brief appearance from the bench, before suffering yet more injury heartbreak. 

Having missed much of the second half of the 2022-23 season with a persistent hip injury, the former Barcelona star was absent for most of this campaign too until a surprise five-minute cameo against Arsenal in February. 

However, that would prove to be in all likelihood his final game in Liverpool colours, being absent from the squad since then with a muscle injury. 

Thiago signed a four-year contract upon his arrival from Bayern Munich for around £20 million back in 2020 and is estimated to be one of the club’s top earners on £200,000 per week. 

Given the scale of his injury problems - having played only 98 times across four seasons - it is all but inevitable that Thiago leaves this summer. 

It was reported earlier this week by Football Insider that Thiago had instructed his representatives to help find him a new club. 

Flamengo and Al-Ettifaq want Thiago

Now reports in Spain have named those interested parties with two teams above all in the race for the midfielder. 

Flamengo are known to be the club of Thiago’s heart, having lived in Rio as a boy and played for the club’s youth sector before moving back to Europe with his father, the Brazil World Cup-winner Mazinho.

And now Fichajes suggests that the Brasileirao giants are keen on adding the playmaker to their ranks. 

Also in the mix are Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq of the Saudi Pro League, the club where Jordan Henderson moved last summer. 

It’s also been suggested by the Spanish report that Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and some top teams in Turkey have expressed interest in taking on the 46-cap Spain international. 

Thiago has won an FA Cup and a Community Shield throughout his four-year stay on Merseyside, scoring three goals. 

He was named to the PFA Team of the Year during the 2021-22 season, when Liverpool finished a single point behind Manchester City in the race for the Premier League title.