Another option in centre midfield is Thiago. The Spaniard is a favourite of Guardiola, who told the Bayern Munich board that "Thiago is the only player I want" before he arrived in Germany. The feeling is clearly mutual, with the former Barcelona midfielder saying last year that he "probably" would still be playing for the Catalan giants if Guardiola was still in charge in an interview with The Guardian. Like any graduate from Barcelona's academy, Thiago is a wonderful passer of a ball and his range of passing can allow him to dictate the pace of a game. With the retirement of Xavi, this summer will be the first chance for Thiago to show off his talent on the international stage, as Spain look to win their third European crown in a row. It will be no great surprise if Thiago follows Guardiola again on his tour around Europe to continue their love affair, but it may be for a huge fee after Thiago signed a new contract in August 2015 that runs until 2019. If the deal does happen, the partnership will be the greatest the Premier League has seen since Harry Redknapp and Niko Kranjcar.
