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According to an insider, this move deviated from Liverpool's usual strategy of recruiting younger talent under 25 years old.

A source discussed the transfer with the Echo in 2022, as they said: "When a player is younger, there is a chance [to improve] but when a player is older, there are fewer chances.

"The older players we've seen [who have been bought] are top players like Thiago, he was the best European midfielder at Bayern and we signed him for a decent fee.



But usually we don't sign players older than 24 or 25."

Thiago did show moments of sheer class during his stint at Anfield, contributing three goals and six assists across 98 appearances.

However, some fans will question if the investment truly paid off, given that injuries kept him out of action for significant periods of time.

This included almost the entire 2023/24 Premier League season due to ongoing hip and muscle issues.

Article continues belowThiago Alcantara joined the Reds at 29 - an unusual transfer pick at the time(Image: Nick Taylor/Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

Injuries were a source of concern for then-manager Klopp, who had plenty of admiration for the player despite this.

An artist of the game who will only ever paint the most beautiful pictures."

Jurgen Klopp was concerned about Thiago's injury issues(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)

Despite approaches from Saudi Arabia as his Liverpool deal wound down, Thiago chose to retire from football entirely at 33 years old, satisfied with his impressive collection of honours for club and country.

Klopp also bid farewell to the Reds at the conclusion of the 2023/24 campaign, ending his iconic nine-year spell at Anfield, with a Premier League crown and Champions League triumph amongst the seven trophies he secured in total.

He was quickly succeeded by Arne Slot, who delivered a Premier League title-winning season despite only signing Federico Chiesa during the previous summer's transfer window and largely retaining the squad he inherited from Klopp.

Arne Slot looks to have reverted to the old transfer strategy(Image: Liverpool FC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

However, Slot has been keen to put his own stamp on the team this summer.

He played a part in renewing contracts with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, but failed to keep club hero Trent Alexander-Arnold, who departed for Real Madrid this summer.

Since then, Slot has secured Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen by triggering the star's £29.5m release clause.

He broke Liverpool's club-record transfer fee by bringing attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz from Leverkusen in a £116m deal, before adding Milos Kerkez to the Anfield ranks in a £40m move from Bournemouth.

The new signings all have one thing in common - they are all under 25 years old(Image: Nikki Dyer - LFC/Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

With 24-year-old Frimpong, 22-year-old Wirtz and 21-year-old Kerkez being the most recent signings, it's evident that Slot has returned to signing proven players who still have their prime years ahead of them.

Should any of his new signings fail to settle at Liverpool in the coming years, they are expected to maintain their resale value given their young ages.

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Slot will be eager to make a strong start in pre-season.

The Reds are currently on their tour of Hong Kong and Japan, taking on AC Milan today (Saturday, 12.30pm UK time) and then Yokohama FM before returning to Anfield to face Athletic Club ahead of the new season.

The Reds take on Crystal Palace in the Community Shield on August 10, before shifting their focus to Bournemouth for their opening match of the Premier League season five days later.