05 January 2024 , 02:00
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Barcelona want to re-sign Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara in January - but Jurgen Klopp is determined to keep hold of the star.
Barcelona are enduring a difficult campaign under Xavi. The La Liga champions are fourth in the table and 10 points behind leaders Real Madrid and Girona in second. Girona, this season's surprise package in Spain, inflicted a 4-2 home loss on Barcelona in December.
Despite their struggles, all is not lost for Barcelona. They have reached the knockout stages of the Champions League - where they will take on Napoli - and are still in the Spanish Cup. Xavi's side will also be determined to win the Spanish Super Cup in Saudi Arabia this month, with Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid and Osasuna also taking part in the tournament.
But Barcelona need to bring in a central midfielder in January after Gavi's season-ending injury. The 19-year-old ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and damaged his lateral meniscus in his right knee while playing for Spain in November.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta recently confirmed they would bring in a temporary replacement for Gavi, just like they did when Edgar Davids was loaned form Juventus in January 2004. Davids was 30 at the time and Xavi wants another experienced star.
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"If we manage to make the (financial) fair play work, the idea is to have another midfielder to compensate for the loss of Gavi," explained Laporta in December. "It would be a loan until the end of the season, like we did years ago with Edgar Davids, for example. I think before the end of the year we can create the space for a couple of deals we are working on."
The man at the top of Barcelona's shortlist is Thiago, their former player. The 32-year-old graduated from Barcelona's famous La Masia academy and won 10 trophies at first-team level, including four La Liga titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup.
Thiago Alcantara hasn't played for Liverpool this season (Getty Images)Do you think Thiago Alcantara should leave Liverpool in January? Let us know in the comments below!
Thiago was persuaded to leave Barcelona for Bayern Munich by Pep Guardiola in July 2013, just weeks after the latter's appointment. He then moved to Liverpool in September 2020 and has shown glimpses of his quality since, most notably when Klopp's side reached the Champions League final and won two trophies during the 2021/22 campaign.
Thiago has struggled with injuries throughout his time on Merseyside and hasn't played at all this season. Klopp has confirmed the midfielder is expected to be available again in January, which is why Barcelona see him as the ideal replacement for Gavi.
Yet Klopp wants Thiago to stay to boost Liverpool's title charge. The Reds are three points clear at the top of the Premier League table, and they are also going well in the Europa League and Carabao Cup. Thiago is out of contract at the end of the season and is likely to leave on a free transfer in the summer, forcing Barcelona to look elsewhere in January.
It's believed Xavi is also interested in signing Tottenham midfielder Giovani Lo Celso. The Argentina international, 27, isn't a guaranteed starter under Ange Postecoglou this season and could be allowed to leave in January, with Spurs not playing in Europe. Xavi is also a fan of Guido Rodriguez at Real Betis, but he's currently struggling with a leg injury.