Thiago Alcantara backed for new Liverpool role next season after confirmed news – pundit
Frank McAvennie has urged Liverpool to build their midfield around Thiago Alcantara next season.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the former West Ham striker insisted Thiago will be hugely important for the Reds next season as long as he is fit.
As quoted by the Liverpool Echo (5 May), Jurgen Klopp confirmed that the 32-year-old will miss the remaining games of the season after undergoing hip surgery for the issue that kept him out for most of the second half of the campaign.
Klopp is hopeful the midfielder will be back and ready for pre-season.
The Reds are set for a massive midfield rebuild this summer but have ruled themselves out of a deal for their top target Jude Bellingham given the cost.
McAvennie suggested Klopp should build the team around Thiago ahead of next season.
“I tell you what, he is going to be the talisman,” he told Football Insider.
“They have got to build their team around him next year because they have not got Bellingham.
“Jordan Henderson is going to be like [James] Milner now I would think. They need to get young players in that midfield.
“[Harvey] Elliott is not ready for the Premier League yet, he will be a great player but Liverpool need an established player right now. Thiago is that guy but they have got to get players around about him.
“Get him fit to start pre-season and get him on the park because he is the guy that can control games. He is the one guy I would build my team around, as a centre-forward I would love to have him in the midfield. I think he is a wonderful player.“
In other news, Klopp favourite convinces Liverpool first-team star to join new club.