Liverpool legend has already advised Thiago Alcântara to join Premier League title rivals

Thiago Alcântara will leave Liverpool without ever having truly shown his capabilities. There have been flashes of pure brilliance, but the signing hailed by Pep Lijnders as the one the team 'deserved' never delivered on his truly transformative potential.

Of course, Bayern Munich knew all about his injury history. It's why it was willing to let a world-class player who had just played a key role in Champions League glory leave for only $31m (£25m/€29m). But Liverpool still got unlucky with its roll of the dice, as the midfielder's issues have got progressively worse.

We've seen Thiago just once all season, when his cameo against Arsenal resulted in a new setback that has kept him sidelined ever since. Presumably, that was the last time we'll see him in a Liverpool shirt.

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Had he made his comeback successfully, maybe there's a parallel reality where Thiago could have earned an unlikely new contract, or at least provided the perfect goodbye. As it is, his Liverpool career will end in a sadly fitting fashion.

What comes next for the Spaniard? He's 33, so it's hard to imagine top teams queueing to sign him up with no guarantees of being able to keep him fit, but he certainly has the quality to continue making an impact at a high level.

Last summer, Liverpool legend Didi Hamann caused a stir by urging Thiago to move to Manchester City or Arsenal, should he decide to stay in the Premier League. He believes those teams play a more suitable style for the midfielder.

"I’m sure there are clubs interested in Thiago," Hamann told Lord Ping. "If he stays in the Premier League, he needs to join one of the top four teams who have a lot of possession, like Man City or Arsenal.

"The more possession you have, the better Thiago plays. He’s not the best player out of possession, there might be a market in Spain too. He’s been a decent player, not a ‘great’ player for Liverpool as some people have said. The physicality of the Premier League has gotten to him."

Hamann also confessed to never having been a 'big fan' of Thiago, pointing to his checkered injury record in a verdict that has proved sadly prescient. He backed the likes of Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott and Stefan Bajčetić to step up — injury has limited Bajčetić, but the others have taken on more prominent roles this season.

Liverpool.com says: Hamann was a little bit right for the wrong reasons last summer. Although he was correct to highlight the growing injury concerns, he was wrong to question Thiago's value out of possession — when the midfielder has been fit, we've seen him slot into the Liverpool approach seamlessly, on and off the ball.

There's little doubt that if he could stay fit, the likes of Manchester City and Arsenal would be interested, despite his age. Pep Guardiola once declared 'Thiago or nothing' when he took over at Bayern Munich.

However, with all of his injury woes, it's hard to imagine any Premier League teams taking the punt now, never mind Liverpool's title rivals. If Thiago is to carry on playing, he will surely have to drop down a level or two.