Former Bayern Munich president Uli Hoeness has accused Liverpool and Manchester United of attempting to blackmail the German giants over Thiago Alcantara.
Liverpool have been consistently linked with Champions League-winning midfielder Thiago this summer but the ECHO understands he is not a current active target.
Hoeness believes Thiago could have already agreed terms with United or Liverpool and reckons both Premier League clubs are holding their nerve until the end of the transfer window.
"It is a difficult situation,” Hoeness told Sport1. “A while ago [Bayern Munich] agreed on a new four-year contract. Some days later he said: 'I'm looking for a new challenge.' Which is totally okay.
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"I think he obviously has an agreement with Liverpool or Manchester United or both of them. Now both clubs are bluffing, and no one has contacted Bayern Munich officially.
“From my point of view, that has no style. They're trying to blackmail us, by waiting until the last week, when they're going to make a cheap offer.
"In that case Bayern have to ask themselves the question: do they want to go along with that or do they tell the player that he has to stay.
“It's going to be a hot three weeks until [the transfer window closes on] October 5.”
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