Liverpool suffer blow in Thiago Alcantara pursuit?

Liverpool have seemingly been informed that they must increase their offer for Bayern Munich midfielder Thiago Alcantara.

With less than a year left on his contract, Thiago has expressed a desire to leave the Allianz Arena in order to take on a new challenge.

However, despite the Premier League champions being linked with a £30m bid, Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has suggested that the German outfit will not consider such an offer for the Spaniard.

Speaking at the unveiling of Leroy Sane, Rummenigge said: "He wants to leave this summer. But I have to say honestly, the fees that circulate in the media, I have to laugh at that.

"We will not have a summer sale at Bayern Munich. We will only consider selling if the numbers are right."

Thiago has spent the last seven years at Bayern, making a total of 226 appearances in all competitions.