The transfer of Spanish international midfielder Thiago Alcantara from Bayern Munich to Liverpool is now likely to happen, according to reports. 

According to The Athletic, the midfielder is believed to wish to join the Premier League champions and the Reds are understood to have been in contact with Bayern.

The fee is set to be in the region of €30 million.

Thiago played a key role as Bayern won the Champions League last month, defeating Paris Saint Germain in the final in Lisbon. He joined the club seven years ago from Barcelona.

The 29-year-old's contract expires next summer, so Bayern are set to cash in now rather than letting him potentially leave on a free next year.

Unlike Premier League rivals such as Chelsea, Liverpool have only made one signing so far in the transfer window, that of defender Konstantinos Tsimikas from Olympiakos.

Bayern are understood to want this business completed before the start of the new Bundesliga season.

The German champions play Schalke on Friday.

If the move goes through, Thiago will bolster the Liverpool midfield, delivering flexibility to Jurgen Klopp's 4-3-3 formation.

Georginio Wijnaldum has been linked with a move to Barcelona under their new manager Ronald Koeman.