Reports this week have suggested that Thiago Alcantara will be the next Bayern Munich player to sign a contract extension after both Hansi Flick and Thomas Muller signed extensions keeping them at the club until 2023. The Spaniard’s current contract is set to expire next year, but an extension is on the horizon, especially since it’s now understood that there’s no possibility he could make a return to Barcelona.
As recently as the beginning of this month, there were reports linking Thiago with a homecoming move back to the Catalans, but the La Liga giants do not want to make a move for the midfielder. There was initially some speculation that it could happen because players like Arturo Vidal, Ivan Rakitic, and Samuel Umtiti were likely to be sold for a decent profit, so Barcelona would have increased funds in the next transfer window. Of course, they could still be focusing on brokering a deal to bring Neymar Jr. back from Paris Saint-Germain, too.
SPOX/Goal correspodnent Ignasi Oliva Gispert, who covers Barcelona regularly, says that there’s zero chance Thiago would go back to Barcelona right now, because the club wouldn’t have the proper funds and have no need for him right now:
The club has neither the money nor need for this transfer. Internally, they have not worked on this personnel question at all this year. A Thiago comeback could only become a possibility if the player offers himself and would accept a salary cut. That’s something someone like him, who is in his footballing prime, would not do under any circumstances.
It was also understood that Thiago floated the idea of a potential reunion with former Bayern Manager Pep Guardiola at Manchester City in the Premier League. However, City’s involvement in the Champions League next season is in jeopardy due to UEFA’s Financial Fair Play investigation against them. Thiago would not want to go if their was no guarantee of Champions League football, especially since Bayern is in a fantastic spot in the competition right now and has a serious chance of winning it. Not to mention the fact that Thiago is one of a handful of Bayern players who have been playing exceptionally well ever since Hansi Flick took charge of the club.
All things considered, an extension with Bayern seems to be the most logical step for Thiago at this point.