Thiago seen as an ideal signing for Barcelona dressing room Transfer Market Former midfielder linked with return to Camp Nou

Ernesto Valverde is clear in his mind that a playmaker is the final ingredient missing from his Barcelona squad and Thiago Alcantara is one genuine option for the club.

With Paulinho and Andres Iniesta leaving over the summer, Miralem Pjanic had been earmarked as the ideal signing but Juventus rebuffed all approaches forcefully, having forked out on Cristiano Ronaldo with the desire of pushing for the Champions League title.

In the Bosnian's stead, Thiago emerged with Bayern Munich perhaps willing to let the Spaniard leave as new boss Niko Kovac shuffles the German giant's squad to fit his playing style.

Internal politics come into play though with some inside the Camp Nou seeing it as uncouth to sign a former player who decided to leave when it suited his short-term gain, as Thiago did, for 24 million euros, when Pep Guardiola started out in Bavaria.

Former technical secretary Robert Fernandez saw no need for that viewpoint and advanced his interest in the midfielder before departing the role, with Eric Abidal now in the hotseat.

Primarily, Abidal remains focused on snapping up Adrien Rabiot from Paris Saint-Germain, given the Frenchman has only a year on his contract left to run, and yet Les Parisiens are determined to scupper any deal.

Therefore Barcelona may be forced into looking elsewhere and a bid of around 60 million euros may seal Thiago's return, with the player's profile certainly fitting Valverde's needs.

Rafinha, father Mazinho, and Thiago

"We want a player that fits especially with our style," the coach said during the tour of North America. "We need people who generate plays through the middle. And if they have to arrive later, well that is fine."

Like Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique before him, Thiago represents a solid option to fulfill the needs of the team and adapt quickly into the dressing room and the demands of life at the Blaugrana.

Indeed, his brother Rafinha is still part of the squad and would also like to see this move kick into gear: "I would like to see Thiago in this team, he would fit perfectly."

For now, the debate rages on inside the Camp Nou transfer offices.