Thiago Alcantara hints at unplanned Liverpool exit with social media change

Liverpool midfielder Thiago Alcantara has hinted at a potential Anfield exit this summer despite being tied down to the Reds until the end of next season. The Spaniard arrived on Merseyside back in 2020 but has failed to live up to expectations over the course of his spell at the club, which has been plagued by a number of injury problems.

Thiago only made 16 appearances in the Premier League for Liverpool last season without scoring or assisting and missed 19 games due to injury, prompting speculation that he could be poised to leave Anfield ahead of the new campaign. He fuelled the ongoing rumours surrounding his immediate future on Monday, when fans noticed that he had removed all mention of the Reds from his Instagram bio.

The club is still mentioned in his Twitter bio, although the change to his Instagram profile has sparked fears on social media that an exit could soon be on the cards. However, it has already been reported by The Athletic that Jurgen Klopp is not expecting to lose Thiago, who is likely to stay for the final year of his contract before potentially leaving on a free transfer next summer.

Thiago is reportedly not anticipated to sign a new deal before the expiry of his current agreement, which suggests that next season will be his last at Liverpool before moving onto pastures new. The extent of his involvement in the squad remains to be seen, though, especially given the recent signing of Dominik Szoboszlai from RB Leipzig for a reported fee of around £60million.

It could also be difficult for Thiago to stay fit for the entirety of the campaign as a result of the injury proneness which has prevented him from maintaining any sort of consistency in recent years. He would certainly be an important player for Liverpool if he manages to steer clear of any further problems, although it would not be a surprise to see him on the treatment table once again before his contract runs out next year.

Thiago’s footballing ability has never been in doubt, with the Spanish midfielder having established himself as one of the best playmakers in the world before joining Liverpool from Bayern Munich three years ago. Former West Ham striker Frank McAvennie has already urged the Reds to build their team around Thiago next season, providing he stays fit and gets the opportunity to show what he is truly capable of on a weekly basis.

“They need to get young players in that midfield,” McAvennie told Football Insider. “[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.”

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