Manchester City has shown a willingness to agree transfer deals with Arsenal in recent seasons, but there has been very limited business with Liverpool. Yet the Etihad's parent organization could now seek to sign an Anfield midfielder.

City Football Group has at least some kind of stake in 12 different clubs. Michael Edwards has returned to FSG to implement a multi-club model involving Liverpool, although it remains to be seen if it ends up being anywhere near as extensive as that.

There are certainly pros and cons of the model. Girona will feel it has worked very well, with the Catalan side having secured a historic place in the Champions League for next season (provided City Football Group can show sufficient separation between the La Liga outfit and Manchester City). However, there have been protests at Troyes, which is threatened by a second consecutive relegation into the relative obscurity of the French third tier.

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It's Girona that has shown an interest in bringing Thiago Alcântara back to Spain. Barring a highly improbable turnaround, the midfielder will not get the chance to impress Arne Slot, with the veteran set to leave at the end of his contract in the summer.

Slot will be losing out on an incredible talent. Pep Guardiola once supposedly declared 'Thiago or nothing' while Bayern Munich manager. But Liverpool has hardly seen him for the past season-and-a-half, with injuries derailing his autumn years.

When Thiago is on the pitch, there's little doubt that he can still play at the highest level. And Carrusel Deportivo claims there are 'offers' to keep him in England. But Girona is also a 'possibility', while there is 'an offer' on the table from Real Betis.

Despite Guardiola's love for Thiago, it's hard to imagine he's one that the City Football Group would pass between Girona and Manchester City, given his injury record and advanced years. But the one thing that seems certain is that the 33-year-old will not be part of the 'Liverpool 2.0' vision under Slot.

Liverpool.com says: There's plenty to like about the idea of Thiago at Girona. At this stage in his career, another shot in the Champions League (assuming the City Football Group can resolve the eligibility issue) would be a potentially unexpected bonus, and he could bring a wealth of experience to the exciting side.

Still, it would be strange for the Liverpool man to end up in the Manchester City network. He was never likely to stay into the Slot era, and will leave with a limited legacy due to all of the injuries, but will still be remembered with fondness — if only in a 'what might have been' sort of way.