Manchester United Transfer Rumours: Latest Buzz on Thiago Alcantara

Manchester United fans have been waiting anxiously to hear that Barcelona midfielder Thiago Alcantara will be coming to Old Trafford.

The rumors have been floating around long enough that it seems like a deal, were it going to happen, should have transpired by now.

Well, Red Devils fans, Manchester United appears to be on the verge of coming up empty handed.

United's hesitancy to make this deal happen has left the door open for Bayern Munich, and the German giants may have slammed that door shut.

The Guardian passed along reports from Italy that the 22-year-old is going to sign with the German side. 

This certainly doesn't come as a total shock. Bayern Munich boss Pep Guardiola was not trying to conceal his desire for Alcantara.

NDTV Sports passed along this quote from Guardiola: "Yes, I want Thiago Alcantara, I have asked (Bayern to get him)."

Well, that's about as straight forward as it gets. 

Guardiola is, of course, familiar with Alcantara. He took last year off, but prior to that he was in charge of Barcelona and helped oversee Alcantara's development.  

Of course, there is a difference between "going to" sign and "has" signed. Manchester United could always go for a desperation play and the turn the tables. However, this would seem unlikely considering their inability to get something done.

According to Sky Sports, Alcantara had already joined Barca in preparation for the season. Manchester United had plenty of time to get a deal close enough so that would not have been necessary.

Along with the Sky Sports story, Barcelona spokesman Toni Freixa appeared on Radio Catalunya, with the quote coming from Sam Lee of Goal.com, and had this to say about the club's midfielder: "We have the players we have. Thiago is one of those, and he'll start preseason with the team as expected."

With the rumor since surfacing that Alcantara is about to join Bayern, when I read that quote now, I see, "Yes. Manchester United has blown it. Would anyone else like to make a run at Thiago?" 

Bayern appears to have answered yes, and Manchester United is left holding the bag.