Two of the Premier League clubs with much work remaining in the transfer market will slug it out over the signing of Thiago Alcantara, claims ESPN.
The 27-year-old is strongly linked with a move to either Chelsea or Manchester United this summer, although Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic strongly denied the midfielder was for sale.
Since joining the Bavarians in 2013, the Spain international has won the Bundesliga five years running, as well as two German cups.
However, the self-styled ‘FC Hollywood’ is overloaded with midfielders and are set to release two of the nine currently in their first-team squad. Alcantara, previously with Barcelona, is one of those earmarked as being available.
With James Rodriguez touted for a quick return to Real Madrid following the departures of Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo, Bayern’s problem could be short-lived.
The German football magazine Kicker recently claimed the Bundesliga champions wanted €70m for the midfielder, a fee which deterred any interest from the Blaugrana.
It’s left the English duo as the only clubs with the funds available to buy Alcantara. Chelsea’s search for players to strengthen their squad intensified following the appointment of former Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri as Antonio Conte’s replacement.
The elder of the two Italians has just a fortnight to sign the players he wants with the Premier League season almost upon us.
