Barcelona are reportedly keen to bring former midfielder Thiago Alcantara back to the club from Liverpool in the January transfer window.
The 32-year-old previously represented the Catalan giants for eight years between 2005 and 2013, coming through their La Masia ranks to make 100 appearances for La Blaugrana in all tournaments.
Thiago became a Champions League, La Liga and Club World Cup winner with Barcelona before being sold to Bayern Munich for £21.5m, and he established himself as one of Europe's most technically gifted midfielders while at the Allianz Arena.
Since leaving the Bundesliga behind for Liverpool in 2020, the Spain international has consistently struggled with injuries but has been a vital player for Jurgen Klopp's side when fit, banking three goals and six assists in 97 games.
However, Thiago - who has been out of action since April due to a severe hip injury - is now in the final six months of his Anfield deal and is therefore free to open discussions with foreign teams over a pre-contract agreement.
Thiago survived Liverpool's midfield revamp over the summer, but having failed to make a single appearance in the 2023-24 campaign, it is yet to be ascertained whether he will be offered a new contract on Merseyside.
A move to Serie A has been mooted for the 32-year-old, who has apparently caught the eye of Inter Milan and Juventus, but according to The Mirror, Barcelona are keen on a January reunion.
The reigning La Liga champions have been tipped to bring a new midfielder to Camp Nou ever since losing Gavi to a devastating ACL injury, which is expected to sideline the former Kopa Trophy winner for the rest of the season.
Back in November, Barca head coach Xavi confirmed his desire to sign a replacement for Gavi during the mid-season window, before president Joan Laporta also revealed that his side were in the midfield market for loan deals.
In spite of Thiago's fitness woes, Xavi reportedly views the Liverpool man as the perfect experienced option to bolster the Blaugrana's midfield ranks in January, but Klopp has no intention of parting ways with the Spaniard.
The Reds boss recently revealed that Thiago was due to return to full training this month, and he is counting on the 32-year-old to play a key role in his side's push for Premier League, Europa League, FA Cup and EFL Cup glory in the second half of the season.
The report adds that Thiago is still on course to leave Liverpool as a free agent at the end of the season, but a January move to Barcelona in a non-starter, meaning that the Spanish champions must focus their search elsewhere.
La Blaugrana have been linked with a number of alternative Premier League targets, namely Tottenham Hotspur's Giovani Lo Celso, but the North London giants are also believed to be against selling the Argentine in January given that Pape Sarr and Yves Bissouma are away on Africa Cup of Nations duty.
Aston Villa's Douglas Luiz and Newcastle United's Bruno Guimaraes are supposedly admired by Blaugrana chiefs too, but Barcelona would not be able to afford moves for either Brazilian at this stage of the season.
Barcelona are seven points adrift of Real Madrid and Girona in third place in the La Liga table, and the Catalonian giants are next in action against fourth-tier Barbastro in Sunday's Copa del Rey last-32 tie. body check tags ::
