Manchester United is looking to contract Thiago Alcantara for next season. It will not even have to enter into negotiations with Barcelona if it stumps up a figure of €18 million, a proposal under serious consideration.

That is the total for the player's current buy-out clause. Thiago renewed his contract two seasons ago when his release fee was set at €90 million. This amount was reduced, however, to €18 million if he did not play a fixed number of games. And that is exactly what has happened.

The player's salary should also not present a problem for his departure. The midfielder currently earns €1.8 million a season, a sum which could easily be topped by a number of European clubs.

Bayern Munich would be another option. Guardiola was always one of his supporters when at Barcelona. In fact it was Pep who backed the payment of his salary, breaking from the general footballing norm that players of his age who moved up to the first team received between €1 million to €1.5 million.

Thiago has not been happy with the way this season has gone for him, a factor that could hasten his exit. Vilanova has not used him very much, at least, not as much as the player wanted. He ranks sixteenth in terms of minutes played throughout the season.