Liverpool are said to be hoping to complete the acquisition of Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Alexis Mac Allister next week.
After deciding to pass on Real Madrid target Jude Bellingham, Liverpool have switched their eyes to cheaper alternatives to the £130 million-rated Englishman.
Mac Allister, a World Cup winner, rapidly emerged as one of the top prospects on Liverpool’s shortlist, having played for both club and country throughout the 2022-23 season.
In addition to winning the World Cup with Argentina, the 24-year-old finished the 2022-23 season as Brighton’s leading goalscorer, with 12 goals, 10 of which came in the Premier League.
Roberto De Zerbi’s side finished sixth in the Premier League table thanks to Mac Allister’s heroics, securing a spot in the Europa League, but the Seagulls manager stated at the end of the season that the Argentine may have played his final game for the club.
Chelsea were thought to be monitoring Mac Allister’s situation, but the Blues were never seen to be genuine candidates for his signature as Liverpool closed in on a big-money deal.
Mac Allister to Liverpool: Almost a done deal
Liverpool intends to clinch a deal to bring Mac Allister to Anfield next week, according to Fabrizio Romano, as they seek to finalise personal terms with the midfielder this week.
Liverpool and Mac Allister have “almost” reached an agreement on the player’s side of the deal, according to Romano, and the Reds are willing to pay the 24-year-old’s leave clause in full.
A figure of £70 million has been stated, but the Merseyside club is said to be willing to pay less to entice Mac Allister away from Brighton, where he has spent the last four and a half years since leaving Argentinos Jrs in 2019.
The Seagulls paid £6.9 million to recruit Mac Allister in January 2019, but he was quickly sent back out to Argentinos Jrs before a six-month stint with Boca Juniors in the first half of the 2019-20 season.
Since then, the midfielder has scored 20 goals and provided nine assists in 112 appearances for Brighton in all competitions, while also scoring one goal and setting up another during Argentina’s World Cup victory in 2022.
Mac Allister is likely to come at Anfield following the departures of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Naby Keita, and James Milner, who all left on free transfers, along with Roberto Firmino.
Arthur has also returned to Juventus after failing to make a single Premier League appearance during his loan term and appearing in only 13 minutes of Champions League action under Jurgen Klopp.
Mason Mount of Chelsea was also thought to be a top target for Liverpool, but the Englishman appears to have agreed personal terms with Manchester United as the Red Devils prepare a formal bid for his services.
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