It has been a roller coaster of a season for the blue half of Manchester as they have clinched the Premier League title with 5 games to spare. But despite boasting a huge squad with immense quality and potential, Pep is keen to add to his ranks with his sights set on the 2018-19 campaign.
Bayern Munich star Thiago Alcantara is set to be in the middle of a tug of war between Manchester United and Manchester City, both who are keen on the flamboyant midfielder.
With Fernandinho, David Silva and Yaya Toure all edging towards the mid 30’s, Pep Guardiola will be looking to bolster his midfield. Similarly, United are likely to offload a few of their midfield stars in the likes of Juan Mata, Marouane Fellaini, Ander Herrara and also factoring in Carrick’s retirement, that leaves them low on personnel in that position. However, it could be an intriguing battle as to who wins the race for the Spaniards’ signature.
Guardiola Vs Mourinho
Arguably, two of the best managers in world football could go head to head for the Bayern Munich star. With that in mind, the Catalan has an edge over Mourinho having worked with Thiago in his tenure at Barcelona and then later at Bayern Munich. Guardiola, upon his appointment as manager at Bayern, forced the issue on the board to sign Thiago. In that aspect, Pep is a known admirer of the midfielder and hence pegs Mourinho slightly behind in the line to lure the star to Old Trafford.
Manchester City Vs Manchester United
Undoubtedly, United are perhaps the biggest club in England with a rich history and an undeniable aura. However, The Citizens are looking to create history themselves with the calibre of football they are displaying at the moment.
United, under Mourinho, have looked laboured in their approach play with a lot of emphasis on defensive shape and organization. As a defender, it is a dream club, but as an ambitious and creative midfielder, Pep’s full throttle attacking side could be the more attractive destination for the Spaniard.
Despite interest from the Manchester heavyweights, Thiago is tied to the German giants for another 3 years that puts Bayern in pole position to dictate terms with regards to their talisman. However, reports suggest that Bayern Munich will be willing to listen to offers of around £50m come this summer.
As we consider a couple of major factors that could influence a players’ decision, the Spaniard could well be leaning towards the blue half of Manchester. However, Mourinho himself is known to convince big stars to join his project. Whether or not Thiago packs his bags and to where remains a question.