Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher gave his thoughts on Liverpool's chase of Thiago Alcantara as the potential deal continues to drag on.
It's the transfer saga of the summer and it shows no signs of slowing down. Liverpool's interest in Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara is universally known yet a bid has not yet been made.
The uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic has meant a swift conclusion seems unlikely.
Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher is a proponent of the signing of Thiago, making his thoughts clear on what he thinks will happen with the deal.
"I hope they can get the Thiago deal over the line,” Carragher said to The Telegraph.
"It may be a game being played with Thiago at the moment. If he does come in, I think it will be towards the end of the transfer window and Liverpool trying to get him as cheap as possible."
Renowned journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted last month that the Reds were unwilling to pay the Spaniard's €30 million price tag because his contract ends within 12 months, meaning he is free to sign a pre-contract agreement in January.
But according to Carragher, the price tag may not be the only issue putting Liverpool off from doing a deal for the 29-year-old.
“The only worry I have which might put Liverpool off is his age," Carragher added.
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"Maybe they have to sell a couple of players so they could pay a fee nearer £20 million than £30 million. I think that is why the deal has to be on Liverpool's terms."
Before the signing of £11.5 million left-back Kostas Tsimikas from Olympiacos, Liverpool sold Dejan Lovren for £10.9 million, in addition to getting the likes of Adam Lallana and Nathaniel Clyne off the wage bill.
Reports in recent weeks claim Liverpool will only make a move for Thiago once they sell a midfielder. In this case, it appears to be Gini Wijnaldum, who is wanted by Barcelona manager and fellow countryman Ronald Koeman.
Wijnaldum's now-former international manager comes in at the Camp Nou during one of the Catalan club's most turbulent periods of their history, with Lionel Messi announcing he wishes to leave the club he's been at since he was 13-years-old.
As soon as news broke of Messi's desire to leave, news publications began to speculate on Messi's next move and more importantly, which clubs could afford his extortionate wages.
While Messi has now announced he will be staying at Barcelona, Carragher insisted he wouldn't have wanted Liverpool in the conversation to buy the Argentine, because of the financial cost and strain it would put on the football club.
“Would I have wanted Liverpool to sign him? [Messi] No," Carragher said.
"Standing back and looking back at the numbers involved and his age I am not sure I would want my team to do it. I am looking at the finances. The figures are unbelievable.
“What are we talking, £70 million or £80 million a year in wages? If I had my hat on as director of football at Liverpool, I do not think I would go near a deal.”
