Jurgen Klopp must offload one of 7 players to complete Thiago transfer

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp will be forced to offload one of seven players if he wishes to sign Thiago Alcantara this summer.

The Bayern Munich midfielder continues to be linked with a switch to Anfield but Liverpool do not have the necessary funds to complete a transfer.

The 29-year-old is valued by his club at £27million given he has less than a year remaining on his current contract, but Liverpool's finances are tight.

In order to raise the cash, Klopp must therefore sell one of the seven midfielders already at the club, according to The Times.

That could prove a conundrum for Klopp seeings as only Marko Grujic would be deemed disposable though Liverpool are struggling to find a bidder.

The 24-year-old is valued at £20million but The Reds would do well to get that amount despite interest from clubs in Germany.

Of the other six midfielders in Klopp's ranks, captain Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita are practically indispensable.

At 34 Liverpool would struggle to attract a big fee for James Milner and is again not up for sale anyway due to his pivotal role in the dressing room.

That leaves only Georginio Wijnaldum who remains a key player under Klopp despite his ongoing contract situation.

As it stands Wijnaldum could leave Liverpool on a free next summer but the club are keen to tie him down to fresh terms.

The sale of Grujic looks to be Klopp's best option, as he also hopes to offload Harry Wilson and Xherdan Shaqiri.

Klopp is wary though that he still needs to find a replacement for departed fourth-choice centre-back Dejan Lovren to provide cover to his current crop.

Thiago wants to move to Liverpool once Bayern's Champions League campaign is over but may be forced to wait until he is available on a free in 2021.

But former Liverpool midfielder Steve Nicol believes the club will try to use Thiago's contract situation to try and reach an agreement.

“If they come up with a compromise that suits Bayern, then it’ll happen," Nicol told  ESPN . “But if it doesn’t happen in this window, it’s going to happen next summer when his contract runs out.

“I would suggest it’s more in Bayern’s interest to get some amount of money rather than get nothing.

“That way both Thiago is happy and Bayern get a decent amount of money as well.

“It’s hanging in the balance. It’s really down to the board, they’ve got to agree on a price.

“Liverpool have shown they won’t be pushed around by anybody, and if the price isn't right they won’t take him right now.”